BAHA'i NEWS PUBLIS HED by TH E NAT IONAL SP IRITUAL ASSEMBLY , I of the BAHA'i S of the UN Ll ED STATES

I I BAHA'I NEWS PUBLIS HED BY TH E NAT IONAL SP IRITUAL ASSEMBLY , I OF THE BAHA'I S OF THE UN ll ED STATES

NO. 267 BAHA'I YEAR 110 JUNE, 1953

nunciation, don (the) armor (of) the) opening year (of the) decade THE GUARDIAN ~- , utter consecration (to) God' s Cause, long, greatest collective enterprise gird themselves (with the) girdle (of since (the) memorable episodes as a) chaste (and) holy life, unsheathe sociated (with the) Dawn-Breakers (the) sword (of) Baha'u'llah' s utter (of the) Heroic Age. "THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE ance, buckle on (the) shield (of) His CHALLENGING PROSECUTORS Planning (to) inscribe, (in) chron love, carry as sole provision implicit ological order, (the) names (of the) OF THE TEN YEAR PLAN" trust (in) His promise, flee (their) spiritual conquerors (on an) illumi homelands, (and) scatter far (and) nated Roll (of) Honor, to be deposit (On) occasion (of the) sixty-first wide (to) capture (the) unsurrend ed (at the) entrance door (of the) Anniversary (of the) Ascension (of) ered territories (of the) entire planet. Baha'u 'llah, (on the) morrow (of the) inner Sanctuary (of the) Tomb (of) opening, initial phase (of the) mo Would to God (that) Baha'i war Baha'u'llah, (as a) permanent me mentous World Crusade, call upon riors, six score (and) ten, (the) num morial (of the) contribution (by the) His followers (in) all continents (to) ber, required (to) fill (the) gaps (in champions (of) His Faith (at the) allow no slackening, nay, (to) insure the) still unconquered territories (of victorious conclusion (of the) open acceleration (of the) marvelous mo the) globe, (will) promptly arise ing campaign (of the) Global Cru mentum generated (by the) historic (and) enroll themselves (to) achieve sade (which is) destined (to) attain celebrations climaxing (the) festiv (the) goals ere (the) conclusion (of consummation (at the) Most Great ities (of) Holy Year. (The) dispersal, immediate, determined, sustained (and) universal, throughout (the) un opened territories (of the) planet, (is the) paramount issue challenging (the) spirit (and) resources (of the) privileged prosecutors (of the) Ten Year Plan (in the) course (of the) current year. All National Assemblies (are) urged (to) give it priority a ssign ments (in their) national budg ets. (The) chief executors (of) 'Abdu'l-Baha's Plan, (by) virtue (of the) primacy conferred (in) His Tab l~ts , (are) accorded (the) preroga. tive (to) stimulate (the) vital pro cess (of the) dispersal through (the) dispatch, in addition (to) their allot ed tasks, (of) pioneers (to the) vir gin territories allocated (to their) sister communities East (and) West. Once again (I) appeal (to) mem bers (of) all communities (to) arise (and) enlist, ere (the) present oppor tunity (is) irretrievably lost, (in the) army (of) Baha'u'llah's crusaders. (The) hour (is) ripe (to) disencum Main App roach to the Shrine of B a h a'u ' lla h at B a h ji taken from in fr ont of th e Shrine ber themselves (of) worldly vanities, sh owing th e beautiful entrance gate to the H arami-Aqdas. ' (to) mount (the) steed (of) stead fastness , unfurl (the) banner (of) re- 2 JUNE, 1953

Views of the new entrance to the Shrine of Baha'u'llih at Bahji near Acea, Israel. Photo at right shows the beautiful detail of new entrance gate .

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Jubilee commemorating (the) Cente OPEN ING THE of our own deeds in the World Cru nary (of the) Declaration (of) His WORLD CRUSADE sade from now until 1963. Yester Mission. Anticipate making periodic day's action does not weigh in the announcements (of the) names (of ( C O M MENTARY : NATI ONAL SP I R IT UA L ASS EMB LY ) balance now held. One hundred thir the) valiant knights upon (their) ar ty-one unoccupied territories await. rival (at their) posts (to) discharge Dear Baha'i Friends: One hundred thirty-one valiant pion (their) historic missions. In the two cablegrams published eers can bring the light of the Faith Share message National Assem above, dated May 13 and May 28, to all these areas of the globe. This blies (of the) Baha'i World. the great Commander of our Baha'i is the first action of the Crusade. -SHOGHI forces throughout the world has sig One notes likewise that Baha'is of Haifa, Israel nalled the first, decisive advance. He the United States are not to think May 28 , 1953 calls upon the believers of East and only of those places definitely as West to arise and volunteer for pi signed to our community in the Cru oneer service in some unoccupied sade plan. We are held responsible territory of those listed in the World for the placing of pioneers in all one "STRONGLY URGE Crusade. The first challenge is to the INTENDING PIONEERS" hundred thirty-one territories-that spirit of faith within the individual is, in every area assigned to another Strongly urge intending pioneers Baha'i - a challenge which we can National Assembly which that As scatter as widely as possible, settle not put aside as something for the sembly cannot allocate to a pioneer even territories, islands not specific collective body to undertake. from its own community, a pioneer ally assigned United States. Prompt Pioneering is the supreme asser from the United States is to settle. opening virgin territories highly tion of faith in Baha'u'llah, the most One hundred and thirty-one pioneer meritorious, extremely urgent, vital heroic expression of the will to obey settlements before April 30, 1954: prerequisite insure triumphant con His Call. It is not an institutional that is what the Baha'is of the world clusion opening phase Global Cru action. The pioneer acts as a human are given to do. sade prerogative chief executors being, one man or one woman, in What greater evidence of the ur 'Abdu'l-Baha's Plan. May enrolled determination to help establish the gency, the vital importance, the pioneers arise (and) confirm primacy Kingdom on earth in its destined glory of this first step in world re American Baha'i community playing time of triumph. generation, than the Guardian's plan preponderating role (in) initial stage Most notable in these messages is of inscribing the names of the World Crusade pioneers on an illuminated (of) spiritual conquest (of) unopened their expression of urgency. Now is territories (and) islands (of the) Roll of Honor, in chronological or- ,,----... the time. This is the thing to do. planet. der, and depositing this Roll as a -SHOGHI Next we perceive that the primacy permanent Memorial at the entrance Haifa, Israel conferred upon America by the Mas door of the inner Sanctuary of the May 13, 1953 ter is conditioned upon the measure Tomb of Baha'u'llah ! BAHA'I NEWS 3

Views of the construction of the Shrine of the Bab showing scaffold ing erected preparatory to comple tion of final work on the Dome. The center view is taken from the west ern approaches of the Gardens, showing the Dome ready for pour ing of concrete for base of the golden titles .

All those pioneers who volunteered MESSAGE FROM THE their services at the All-America In GUARDIAN TO THE FIRST tercontinental Conference, or since, IT ALO-SWISS CONVENTION, or who made their offer before the Conference convened, have received FLORENCE, APRIL 23-26, 1953 a questionnaire providing for very Hail (with) feelings (of) joy pride important information. As these are (and) gratitude (the) convocation filled out and returned to the Na amidst (the) celebrations (of the) tional Assembly, they are carefully Holy Year (in the) heart (of the) gone over by a special committee, Italian peninsula (the) first historic sorted out, and prepared for distrib Baha'i Convention, comprising (the) ution to the various Intercontinental elected delegates (of the) steadily Teaching Committees. these Committees will announce its unfolding highly promising Italian In order that all our facilities and general plans and report regularly Swiss Baha'i communities. Acclaim resources may be concentrated on on its activities through BAHA. 'i (the) gathering (of the) fairest fruit the work of the World Crusade, the EWS. (of the) initial enterprise launched National Spiritual Assembly has ap (in the pursuance (of) 'Abdu'l-Baha's BAHA'i NEWS , as the organ of pointed a Western Hemisphere Teach Divine Plan (in the) European conti ing Committee, a European Teaching World Crusade activity and plan ning-since news of the work of nent. Heartily congratulate (the) as Committee, an Africa Teaching sembled representatives (of these) Committee, and an Asia Teaching other National Assemblies will be featured-becomes the indispensible two outstanding communities (of the) Committee, each having responsi ten European goal countries (in the) bility for the different aspects of link between the Baha'i and the new world of the Kingdom. rapid rise (of the) administrative or the World Crusade Plan within its re der (of the) Faith (in the) heart -NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY spective area. (and) south (of the) continent, enab For the work within the United ling them (to) outstrip (their) sister States, a new teaching structure has communities (and to) set (the) ex been created, consisting of a Na "ESTEEMED VETERAN ample (by the) erection (of a) pillar tional Teaching Committee and a OF FAITH " (of the) Universal House (of) Jus number of Area Teaching Commit tice (the) third (in) Europe (and) " Share grief (at) passing (of) es tees. This simplifies the structure twelfth (in the Baha'i World. (The) by eliminating one level of adminis teemed veteran (of) Faith, Maria trative action and contributes to the Ioas. Soul rejoicing (in the) Abha National Assembly now being con resources of teaching by freeing Kingdom (at the) services rendered stituted (is) regarded (as a) step hundreds of trained and devoted be (by her) dear son (at the) World ping stone (in the) formation (of the) lievers from obligations in connec Center (of the) Faith (in the) triple course (of the) impending decade function (of) Hand (of the) Cause, tion with the former Regional Com long crusade (of) two independent Secretary-General (of the) Council mittees. National Spiritual Assemblies, des (and) Supervisor (of) construction tined (to) each lend (an) impetus (to There are, therefore, five World (of the) dome (of the) Bab's Sepul the) unfoldment (and) consolidation Crusade Teaching Committees, since chre.'' (of) Baha'u'llah's embryonic World the National Teaching Committee, -SHOCHI Order. with its Area Teaching Committees, has World Crusade goals to attain (This) infant institution (is) invest within our own community. Each of ed (on the) morrow (of) its emer- 4 JUNE, 1953

View at left shows base of the Dome of the Shrine of the Bi b with firs t 45 golden tiles in pos ition; s ingle tile at right of photo marks the place where the Beloved Guardia n r eve rently imbedded, within a silver case , a piece of the plaster from the c eiling of the pris on room a t M a h-Ku whe r e the Bab w as incarc er ated. The Guardian a lso s et this golden tile. The view at righ t is of a bell cr own of the lantern of the Dome.

gence (with) two vital functions, (to) National I:I a'.?iratu'l-Quds (in) Rome s timulate (the) propagation (of the) (and) Bern, eighth, (the) establish ' NATIONAL Faith (and to) consolidate (its) in ment (of the) first joint, subsequently [__ ASSEMBLY stitutions (over the) length (and) separate summer schools, ninth, ·-~·Pl_~~TUAL breadth (of) Switzerland (and the) (the) establishment (of) national en Itali2n Peninsula. (The) Ten Year dowments (in) Italy (and) Switzer Plan (the) newly born National Spir land, tenth, (the) formation (of a) INFORMATION FOR itual Assembly (is) called upon (to) E uropean teaching comm ittee em PROSPECTIVE PIONEERS prosecute involves, first, (the) for power ed (to) stimulate (and) coor Before, during and since the Inter mation (and) incorporation (of) in dina te (the) activities initiated (for continental Conference, a gratifying dependent National Spiritual As the) prom0tion (of the) teaching number of Baha'is have offered to semblies (in) Italy (and) Switzer phase (of the) plan. pioneer. These friends , as well as be land, second, (the) consolidation (of Fervently praying (that the) stren lievers who volunteer from now on, the ) Faith (on the) island (of) Cor uous tasks shouldered (by the) are being supplied with a letter of sica, third, (the) opening (of the) youngest National Spiritual Assem grateful appreciation and a Ques virgin territories (of) Sicily, Sar bly (of the) Baha'i World (will) be tionnaire to be filled out and re befittingly discharged, enabling it dinia, Rhodes, San Marino, Monaco turned prom ptly to the National (to) contribute (a) distinct share (in (and) Lichtenstein. Fourth, quad Spiritual Assembly. the) world wide festivities which will rupling (the) number (of) local spir The details provided by the Ques commemorate (the) Hundredth Anni itual assemblies, trebling (the) num tionnaire are essential information versary (of the) Declaration (of) for the various World Crusade Com ber (of) localities (in) Italy (and) Baha'u'llah's Mission (in the) city Switzerland, fifth, (the) purchase mittees who will conduct the new (of) BagJi.dad. projects in the Americas, Africa, E u (of) land (in the) city (of) Rome (in) (Signed) SHoGm rope and the Orient. All Question anticipation (of the) first Mafil}riqu'l naires received by the National As A<;llikar (of) Italy, sixth, (the) incor (Complete Report on the Italo sembly will be referred to the prop poration (of the) spiritual assemblies Swiss Convention on P age 7.) er committee for further action. (of the) leading cities (in) each coun P ioneering is the most urgent, try, seventh, (the) establishment (of) ~' ~~~~--~~~~~ compelling and glorious of Baha'i BAHA'I NEWS 5

Delegates and F riends at the 24th a nua l Baha'i Convention a nd Jubilee Week Celebra tions held in New Delhi, India, from April 26 to May 2, 1953. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• services at this time, a s all who at CENTRAL AMERICA The Guardian' s cable of October 8, tended the Conference and heard the 1952, Launching the World E m brac Guardian' s Messages are thoroughly Third Central American Convention ing Spiritual Crusade , was the prin aware. A tidal wave of new spiritual Held at H avana cipal topic of the program . This was energy sweeps through the Baha'i divided into the following parts to fa The National Convention of Cen community, creating forceful deter cilitate study: The World Center, tral America was held in Havana, mination to win the supr eme victory Consolidation, and Extension of the Cuba, on April 23, 24 and 25, followed of 1963. Faith during 1953 to 1963. by school sessions on April 26 and -NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY 27. A public meeting was held on SOUTH AMERICA April 25th. Third South American Convention Baha'i in the News at Lima, P eru Spotlight, a widely circulated Eng The Third South American Con lish magazine in Jamaica, pub vention was held in Lima, P eru, INTERNATIONAL from April 22 to April 25 . The Con lished an illustrated article on the vention was preceded by a three-day NEWS Baha'i Faith, and on the Internation Convention School. Two public meet al Events t aking place. ings were held during the Conven tion. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA Weekly Broadcast s in P anama City The following National Spiritual Radio Station, The Voice of P an Nine new Baha'i communities Assembly was elected for the com ama, is giving 15 minutes of free have been established in Germany ing year: Mrs. Margot Worley, Miss during the past year, as one of the time for weekly B aha'i broadcasts in Mercedes Sanch ez, Mrs. Gayle Wool Panama City. goals of their Five-Year Plan. This son, Miss Dorothy Campbell, Mrs. has been possible only through the Fabienne Guillan, Mr. J orge Bejar, Panama Communities Consult greatest sacrifice, dedication and co Miss E ve Nicklin, Mr. E dmund Mies operative effort of isolated Baha'is, On World Crusade sler, Mr. Athas Costas. established communities and pi An Inter-Community meeting was oneers. The new communities are held on February 8 with friends at FAITH Ebingen, Ulm, Giessen, Heilbronn, tending from the cities of Colon, Pa Faith is a great and i mportant Freiburg i. Breisgau, Ludwigsburg, nama, and the group in the Canal f actor of achievement. Enlightened Bad Canstatt, Tilbingen and Bonn Zone. f ait h has, in addition to the auto raising to twenty-four the number of Mr. George T . Daniels of the Spe motive power whi ch ev en a blind local Spiritual Assemblies now estab cial Area in Caribbean Section, zeal bestows, t he perfect cha•rt f or lished in Germany and Austria. Two Trusteeship Division of the United arri ving at the aimed-for goals. fifths of the work that contributed to Nations, spoke at the morning ses From " The Next Hundred Ye ars" by the success of the Five-Year Plan sion, and told of some of his activ Stanwood Cobb, Baha'i World Vol. XI was done in the last year. ities. - Page 685 . 6 JUNE, 1953

A Week of Jubilee Events at New Delhi, India

View at left is of the World Government Forum at New Delhi, India with Shri Jaipal Singh, M.P. speaking and James B. Orrick, Direc tor of UN Information Center at New Delhi, Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, Deputy Speaker of the Indian Parliament, Shri A. Rahman of the National Baha'i Assembly of India, Pakista n and Burma, Dr. Anup Singh, M.P., seated at the right. At right are shown pa rticipa nts in the All Faiths Convention, Mr. Mehdi Samimi of Iran, Shri A. Rahma n, and Hon. Rajkumari Amrit Ka ur, Minister of Hea lth of India, as presiding chairman.

Director of UN Information at New Delhi Speaks The Baha'is of India celebrated the Centenary period with a week of outstanding events that in cluded an All Faiths Convention, a Forum on World Government, a Symposium on the Status of Women and the 24th Annual Baha'i Convention. The Forum on World Government included Mr. James B . Orrick, Director of U Information Cen ter at New Delhi, Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyang ar, Deputy Speaker of the Indian Parliament (Chairman) , Shri A. Rahman of the National Baha'i Assembly of India, Pakistan and Burma, Dr. Anup Singh, M.P. and Shri Jaipal Singh, M.P. The Janu ary, 1953 issue of BAHA'I NEWS (page 11) carries a report on a farewell party given by the Baha'is in New York City for Mr. Orrick, Chief of the Depart Symposium on the Status of Women, with Miss Monira Yagan ment of Public Information for the UN Non-Govern egi, Mrs. Rukmini Dev i Arundale, Begum Aizaz Rasul, mental Organizations, just before his departure for Chairman, Mrs. Manmohini Sehgal, and Mrs. Sush ama Sen. New Delhi. The deliberations of the All Faiths Convention held on April 30 were presided over by Hon. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Minister of Health, of the Government of India. Mehdi Samimi of fran and Mr. A. Rahman of the National Baha'i Assembly of India, Pakistan and Burma also took part. Another significant event was the Symposium on the Status of Women with Miss Monira Yaganegi of Poona, Mrs. Rukmini Devi Arundale, Begum Aizaz Rasul (Chairman), M.Ps., Mrs. Manmohini Sehgal and Mrs. Sushama Sen, M.P. participating. General Sir Gerald Templar sent a letter from the King's House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, to the Centenary Celebration, containing the following message: " On behalf of the five million people of all races and faiths in the Federation of Malaya, I wish the 1953 Centenary Celebrations of the Baha'i Faith all Another view of the All Faiths Con vention possible success and I hope and feel sure that your endeavours will bring closer that era of universal fellowship and peace which we are all striving, in our different ways, to bring about. " BAHA'I NEWS T

Friends and de legates gathered fo r the Fir st Italo-Swiss Convention at F lor ence, Italy, April 2.3-26, 1953.

THE FIRST ITALO-SWISS Up the sweeping stairway, in the itual Assembly of the United States CONVENTION - home of Mrs. Marion Little, Conven and the entire American Community, tion Arrangements Chairman, where Mr. Haney stressed the historic im FLORENCE, IT ALY the Friends were being welcomed, portance of the rising Twelfth Pillar "URGE CONVOCATION RIQVAN the answer beamed from every face. of the Universal House of Justice, . . . CITY FLORENCE (UPON The National Spiritual Assembly of and the unique distinction of its erec THE) OCCASION FESTIVITIES the United States was officially there tion in this Holy Year, recalling too, BAHA'f HOLY YEAR FIRST CON too, in the cherished person of Miss as impetus to the Friends, the fol VENTION .... " Edna True, its Recording Secretary, lowing promise given Baha 'u'lliih in and a bit later in Mr. Paul Haney, its Siyah-Cb.al: - " Ere long will God On the evening of April 23, 1953, Chairman, flying in from Haifa, ex raise up the treasures of the earth these word of the beloved Guar uberant with the love he was trans men who will aid Thee through Thy dian took form as the Italian and porting from the Guardian to all of self and through Thy Name . . .. " Swiss Friends clasped hands in the the Friends. Miss True then called the Roll of " City of the Lily"-in the " City of At 9:30 the following morning, in Delegates, which revealed eighteen the Spirit"! that atmosphere of consecration pe present, one absent. Preceded by Joyous yet awesome feelings filled culi;;ir to impending great events, prayer, the election of permanent the heart as we entered the inner Mr. Haney opened the Convention, Convention officers took place, with court of the Palazzo Solembene , Dr. Ugo Giachery, Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery elected Chairman monument of the Renaissance, and of God, reciting 'Abdu'l-Baha's Visi and Mrs. Anne Lynch, Secretary. gazed up the ~all columns to the tati011 Tablet:-" Lord ..... make In throbbing expectation the forty arched frescoes framing them. Re me as dust in the pathway of Thy eight Friends present heard the naissance !-were we not here to loved ones . . .. ! " The Master who Guardian's Convention Message with herald the rebirth of the spirit? had lived these words, was listening, its ten vital assignments. all to be Columns !-were we not here to erect for today no lesser responsibility de consummated in the decade ahead. the ·'Twelfth Pillar" in the celestial volves upon every member of a dedi What glory had suddenly come to plan of the same Divine Artist who cateri Baha'i World Community. our young Community, to be charged inspired a Michelangelo and Leon First transmitting the loving wish with the spiritual destiny of other ardo, a Dante and Galileo? es of the Guardian, the National Spir- lands! In this signal Message, the 8 JUNE, 1953

Guardian's words of encouragement The European Teaching Commit Mrs. Gladys Vautier, charming Co rise to words of challenge, and these tee's fledglings, soon to soar on their chairmen of the evening, and by Mr. to words of hope, culminating in VIC o;wn power, fluttered a bit at the Guilio Jacoviello. Deeply impressive TORY. I quote but three excerpts magnitude of their new tasks. At just Ric;lv {m excerpts from the Holy Writ from its upward-surging contents, this moment Miss True arose and ings were read in various tongues since the complete text is given else read the European Teaching Com by eighteen of the Friends. The maj where in this issue:- mitee' s congratulatory message with or talk of the evening -"The Signi its exhilarating spirit of confidence ficance of the Ric;lvan Feast", was "HAIL FEELINGS JOY PRIDE and faith in the young Assembly. presented by Mr. Paul Haney, whose GR AT IT UDE CONVOCATION Other heartening messages from glowing description of the Ric;lvan AMIDST CELEBRATIONS HOLY East and West followed. celebration which he was privileged YEAR HEART ITALIAN PENIN Consultation concerning National to experience on April 21 in the SULA FIRST HISTORIC BAHA'f Endowments led to a recommenda presence of the beloved Guardian, the Friends and Pilgrims, warmed CONVENTON C 0 M P R I S I N G tion that the new National Spiritual every heart. " The Feast of Ric;lvan" , ELECTED DELEGATES STEAD Assembly study the proper method of making a will, and issue the ne Mr. Haney remarked, "is the most ILY UN F 0 L D I NG HIGHLY auspicious event in the history of PROMISING ITALIAN - SWISS cessary instructions to all of the Friends. Mr. Haney spoke in detail the world, since it marks the declar BAHA'f COMMUNITIES'' on the Institution of the National ation of Baha'u 'llah, the Supreme "CONSOLIDATION FAiTH IS Fund, pointing out the Assembly's Manifestation of God for the next LAND CORSICA .... OPENING obligations in this direction. "Though 500 ,000 years. Especially significant VIRGIN TERRITORIES SICILY the Baha'i viewpoint on finances is is the Ric;lvan of 1953 occurring in the SARDINIA RHODES SAN MAR new and different," he remarked, heart of the Holy Year, which com INO MONACO LICHTENSTEIN" "in that all contributions are volun memorates the birth of Baha'u'llah's Mission and launches the World Cru FERVENTLY PRAYING STREN tary, yet the Fund remains, as the sad~.·· UOUS TASKS SHOULDERED Guardian has said, 'the bedrock on YOUNGEST NATIONAL SPIRIT which all other institutions must ne Music closed the formal program UAL ASSEMBLY BAHA'f WORLD cessarily rest and be established.' but the evening held still another un Viewed purely through human eyes, forgettable hour as we gathered BE BEFITTINGLY DISCHARGED the work thus far accomplished in about tiny tables and mingled ma ENABLING IT CONTRIBUTE DIS the Cause and embracing the devel terial and spiritual refreshment. As TINCT SHARE WORLD - WIDE opment of its institutions, appears, parting gift the heaping basket-bou FESTIVITIES WHICH WILL COM in relation to the number of its mem quet was passed. and each Friend MEMORATE HUNDREDTH AN bers, an impossibility. Only through drew the rose of his favorite color N IVE RS ARY DECLARATION sacrifice and whole-hearted devotion a Ric;l van rose! BAHA'U'LLAH'S MISSION CITY have the results we see before us, On Saturday morning, April 25, the BAGHDAD.'' been achieved. The Convention in momentous event glimpsed in per Florence is an example of the fruit Lively discussion of the Guardian's s pe~tive for more than a year - the of such sacrifice. 'All must contri formation of the National Spiritual Message quickly fanned the pioneer bute,' the Guardian recently re ing urge into flame. The spirit of uni Assembly of the Baha'is of Italy and marked, 'for this signifies unity. Not Switzerland - suddenly rose before fied action mounted, reaching a high the size of the contribution but the point when Mr. Shahpour Rassekh us. Divine privilege and divine re degree of sacrifice is the important sponsibility joined hands in the great recommended setting the Temple thing.' " Land Fund for Rome into motion est spiritual opportunity ever to enter our Baha'i lives! A majestic World "here and now"! With one acclaim Evening brought the hallowed joy Crusade already beckons "For the idea was adopted! The realiza of the Ric;lvan Feast. In the Grand ward"! Forward in the heroic deter tion that the infant Assembly would Hotel's gleaming salon this " Festival mination e:;cpressed by our beloved be assuming responsibilities as defi of God" was held. Here myriads of Guardian:-" Never to flinch, never nite as those of its eleven sister Pil rose-hued lights merged with the to hesitate. never to relax"! lars, grew still more vivid as Mr. deep rose azaleas that lined the po Haney gave the four objectives which dium and with the vari-colored roses Following the helpful spiritual and the Guardian has made the common that betokened Ric;lvan. If this earth administrative counsel on election cause of all National Assemblies in ly beauty spoke to us of heaven, procedure given by Mr. Haney, Miss the coming World Crusade:-namely, what, then, was the transcendent True and Dr. Giachery, the honored 1) the development of the institutions vision of Baha'u'llah as he uttered Delegates, fortified by prayer, cast at the World Center; 2) the consoli His Ric;lvan Call:- "Guide then, the their ballots for the new Assembly. dation and strengthening of the Faith people unto the Garden of Delight Results showed the following mem bership:- Dr. Ugo Giachery, Mr. in the twelve territories having Na which God hath made the throne of Friedrich Schar, Dr. Alessandro Bau tional Spiritual Assemblies; 3) the His Paradise!" consolidation of the Faith in all terri sani, Mrs. Marion Little, Prof. Mario tories already opened to it, and 4) Strains of Bach preceded the hap Fiorentini, Mrs. Anna Kunz, Mrs. the opening of the remaining virgin py words of greeting and gratitude Stella Lonzar, Mrs. Anne Lynch, Miss territories of the entire planet. expressed by Mrs. Marion Little and Elsa Steinmetz. :B AHA'I NEWS 9

Much interest was excited among tribute to the "Commander of the Mr. Friedrich Schar, Vice-Chair the F riend s as our Chairman showed Divine Plan"! man the new statistical booklet prepared Nor did the ETC forget a gift sup Mrs. Anna Kunz, Secretary by the Guardian covering the devel ply of Credential Cards for inter Miss Elsa Steinmetz, Recording opment of the Faith to date and out national travel. Spiritual passports Secretary lining the plan for universal ex for dauntless Crusaders! Mrs. Anne Lynch, Treasurer pansion in the next ten years. In Expressing infinite gratitude to the viewing the overwhelming "World ETC and the National Spiritual A s Prof. Mario Fiorentini, Assistant Crusade Map'' depicting the foreign sembly, United States, through Miss Treasurer assignments allotted the twelve Na True and Mr. Haney, whose guidance The National Office is to be located at tional Spiritual Assemblies for ex was 1:till to be our chief ally at the the home of Mrs. Anna Kunz. Secre ecution, one gives thanks for the initial meeting of the newly born As tary, 38 Ramistrasse, Zi.irich 1. assurance of 'Abdu'l-Baha, that "no sembly at the Grand Hotel Saturday, Grateful mention was again made capacity is limited when led by the our Chairman appointed Mrs. Fritzi of the two precious Tablets presented Spirit of God". Shaver and Miss Honor Kempton as by the Guardian, who so significantly A surprise gift, rare in historical temporary Chairman and Secretary selected Florence, the birthplace of interest, was sent by the Guardian respectively, supplanting himself and the Cause in Italy, for the Conven through Dr. Giachery, and consisted Mrs. Anne Lynch. Saturday after tion. Touching tribute was paid Miss of two Tablets written by 'Abdu'l noon's Convention session dealing Dagmar Dole for her teaching work Baha shortly before His passing, to with Teaching Work, brought out of sE:veral months in Naples and Mrs. J. A. Burr of Florence, the first such salient recommendations as the Milan. use of vacations for teaching pur Believer in this city and the first to All other gifts were again acknow poses and the development of a brief kindle the light of the Cause of Italy. ledged, with a new one added - history of the Faith in Italy, Switzer Eleven " Letters of Acclamation" $1500 from the National Spiritual As land, and Corsica. written by our eleven sister National sembly of the United States for our Assemblie.s - each individual in A study course on the Covenant National Fund. Assurance was given style - each glowing with warm prepared by Mrs. Anne Lynch, based that this sum, a real sacrifice, would welcome, with affection and encour on 8Xcerpts from the Will and Testa be spent with utmost wisdom. ment of 'Abdu'l-Baha, was presented agement, were read by Miss True A total of $85.00 was announced as Saturday evening. Special emphasi~ and Mr. Haney, who then presented the Convention's contribution to the was !:lid upon the high moral respon them, handsomely bound in leather, Temple Land Fund for Rome. to the new Assembly for " permanent sibility of the individual Baha'i. The Delegates were then invited inspiration". Paralleling this splendid course, Mrs. Teresina Gasperi-Campani spoke to present recommendations to the "ADVISE EUROPEAN TEACH Sunday morning on the Administra National Spiritual Assembly. Those ING COMMITTEE UPON CON tive Order, stressing particularly the given comprised largely the propos SUMMATION GLORIOUS ISSUE position of the Guardian. als made at the Convention Session on Teaching. FORMAL INVITATION THEIR A spirit of love and enthusiasm SPIRITUAL OFFSPRING NEWLY filled the cup to overflowing, when, in In closing, Dr. Giachery praised EMERGED NATIONAL ASSEM the heart of the discussion, the be all assembled for the mature and BLY PARTICIPATE TOGETHER loved Guardian's Cable in response harmonious manner in which the SISTER NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES to our Convention Message, was pre Convention proceeded and extended UNITED STATES BRITISH ISLES sented by Dr. Giachery:- deepest thanks successively to the GERMANY INTERCONTINEN beloved Guardian for whom all TAL CONFERENCE AUGUST " DEEPLY APPRECIATE MESS turned for a moment in silent prayer ; SAME YEAR CAPITOL CITY AGE WELCOME NOBLE DETER to both the National Spiritual Assem SWEDEN!" MINATION LOVE SHOGHI" bly of the United States and the Euro At our parting session Sunday af pean Teaching Committee whose Dreams DO come true! This thrill ternoon, and with the Guardian's combined and immeasurable efforts ing proposal in the Guardian's Mess Convention Message as keynote, Dr. have been the backbone of our pro age of March 9, 1952, became the Giacl1ery r:=viewed the high points of gress; to the ever-helpful Geneva reality he foresaw, as Miss True read our First Halo-Swiss Convention. Office ; to the Convention Committee the ETC's loving letter of invitation "Six years ago," he remarked, "who of Arrangements - Mrs. Marion to Stockholm. would have dre::i.med that we should LittL~, Chairman, Mrs. Stella Lonzar, Joyous excitement took no end! A meet in Florence today; and that our and Mr. Guilio J acoviello, whose im heavy gift-package revealed the new two countries would be joined in an mense preparatory work stretched Assembly's Official Seal, engraved in undertaking whose vastness leaves over many months ; to the entire three languages - Italian, French us aghast? Let each one of us take Florence Community for its kind and German - presented by the inventory and realize what his share hospitality, with special gratitude to ETC. Ardently we !:ope that in the in effort, dedication and sacrifice Mrs. Marion Little for so graciously varying hours :if light and shadow must be! homing the entire Convention in her in the Holy Crusade, its imprint The officers of the Assembly were beau';iful home, omitting not a de may accompany news of countless then announced:- tail in facilitating comfort and victories - heroic, selfless acts in Dr. Ugo Giachery, Chairman smooth functioning. 10 JUNE, 1953.

Our Public Meeting was yet to processes, our speaker showed with coulrl be measured by the late hour come. By five o'clock an eager audi dynamic certainty that the develop to which many of the guests lingered,. ence filled the room to hear Dr. Gia ment of modern science, the intro and the flow of questions asked. chery' s talk entitled " On the Thresh ductiun of sweeping social reforms, old of World Civilization". Mrs. the growing recognition of the basic * * * * * Stella Lonzar, Chairman, presided. truths in all great religions, the de Legend relates that the City of sire for world peace, and the emer Dr. Giachery developed his theme Florence was born in a field of roses gence of world government, syn on the premise that the universal when a magic powder made by the fermentation so obvious in all de chronize, one and all, with the unfold Muses was strewn over it, bringing ing uf the Baha'i World Faith - a partments of life today, is being im forth a bevy of happy and beautiful pelled by two processes --one in revelation precipitating a mighty young people. Today it is our hope spiritual rebirth destined in turn to tegrating, the other disintegrating ; that the fragrance of the Word of the first gradually evolving a system culminate in an " ideal World Order, God, diffused from the First Italo in universal consciousness of world destined to serve as a " Pattern for Swiss Convention, may give birth to citizenship and in a world culture ex Future Society", the second tearing a host of spiritual heirs in the " City pressive of the first spiritual civiliza down with force every barrier to the of the Lily" - in the " City of the tion in the history of mankind". attainment of this system. Asserting Spirit"! that the light of the Baha'i Revela The intense interest which the Elsa Steinmetz tion is the power motivating both speaker's pre;;;entation awakened, Basel, Switzerland

Pioneers delegates visitors from many lands gather with the new African believers at the first Inter-continental Conference ' ' recently held at Kampala, Uganda in Africa. BAHA'I NEWS 11

NATfONAL INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I SCHOOL Special Sessions on World Crusade FAITH IN ACTION International Baha'i School, Pine Valley, Colorado will open for a two-week period beginning July 19th, Sunday. There will be two sessions The American Jubilee celebrations of one week each starting on Sundays, July 19th and 26th. Arrival dates attracted widespread publicity, par are the Saturdays before each session. ticularly in the Chicago area. These two concentrated sessions will be devoted to the study of sub Th~ complete story of the excellent jects related to the carrying out of the Ten Year Crusade. newspaper, magazine, newsreel, ra Reservations should be made early through Mrs. Gladys Roberts, dio and television coverage given Secretary Programing Committee, International Baha'i School, Box these events will be carried in a spe 1003 , Colorado Springs, Colorado. The cost is $35.00 per week per person. cial Jubilee Issue of BAHA. 'f NEws. The Cleveland Board of Educa tion has recognized the Faith as an nificant words: " This House of Wor three a cappella songs rendered by a independent religion and has grant ship, now opening wide its doors to trained group of eight voices, this be ed to Baha'i parents the privilege of peoples of all creeds, of all races, of ing the function of another com requesting in writing that their chil all nations and of all classes, is dedi mittee. dren be excused from attendance at cated to the three fundamental veri Several hundred persons, Baha'is school on the Baha'i Holy Days. ties animating and underlying the and guests, have attended. Many Good news from Alaska is the im Baha'i Faith-the Unity of God, the guests have spoken of the inspira minent formation of the first Baha'i Unity of His Prophets, the Unity of tion they received, not only from the Group in Fairbanks, in the central Mankind.'' majestic beauty of the Temple in portion of the territory. In this statement we have the per terior but also from their realiza Honolulu, Hawaii reports its first fect formulation of purpose to guide tion, for the first time, that the all Baha'i wedding, held in the Hono those who prepare the readings and Prophets have revealed one continu lulu Baha'i Center. those who select the music which to ous body of truth. gether constitute public worship in The National Assembly has au CONCORDANCE ON the one Baha'i Temple now existing thorized the Temple Worship Com BAHA'I BOOKS PLANNED in the entire world. mittee to send mimeographed copies National Reference Library In the spirit of the Guardian's clas of the weekly service to those re Needs Helpers sic phrase, and following the pattern questing it. set in the service of public dedica -COMMITTEE ON TEMPLE WORSHIP The National Reference Library tion, the committee has prepared se BAHA'I NEWS SERVICE Committee is making plans to com lected readings from the authentic Please mail all publicity clippings pile an index and concordance for Holy Scriptures of the various reli to the Baha'i News Service, Mrs. all Baha'i books. This concordance and index will eventually be made gions, particularly from the Old Tes Nina Matthisen, Secretary, 77 E. Ce into a Union Library Card System tament, the New Testament, the dar Street, Chicago, Illinois so that ready reference can be made Qur'an, and the Writings of Baha Send one copy of small publicity to any subject in the Writings. 'u'llah. items and two copies of more im This tremendous project is vitally Some six services have now been portant or significant articles and important and the Committee ur conducted, the music consisting of ads. gently requests helpers to volunteer for this work. You do not have to be trained or experienced. The Commit PHOTOGRAPHS OF WORLD CENTER tee will send complete instructions. (There are less than 100 sets of these photos remaining and Please contact Mrs. Dorothy Peter this will be the last of the supply.) sen, Secretary , 2557 North 69th The complete set sells for $5.70. Street, Wauwatosa, 10, Wisconsin. Shrine of the Bab $1.10 13 pictures Bahji Mansion .70 8 pictures BAHA'I PUBLIC WORSHIP Mazra 'ih Mansion .30 3 pictures Following dedication of the House Acea & Prison .75 9 pictures of Worship by Baha'is on Friday, Relics .80 10 pictures May 1, and its public dedication Sat Ri<;lvan Garden (Acea) .50 6 pictures urday, May 2, a weekly service of Monumental Gardens .80 10 pictures public worship has been conducted Miscellaneous .75 9 pictures each Sunday at 3:30 P .M. in the Tem ple auditorium by a committee ap $5 . 70 68 pictures pointed by the National Spiritual As Send Money Order or check to: sembly. Mrs. Dorothy V. Petersen The Guardian's memorable state 2557 North 69 Street ment of dedication, read by Rul).iyyih Wauwatosa 10, Wis. Khanum May 2, included these sig- 12 J UNE, 1953"

CALENDAR

KING'S HOUSE O F EVENTS K UAL A LUMPU R M"L AYA Holy Days: July 9, Martyrdom of the Bab 14th Apr11 1953 1 Jubilee Celebrations: 3rd Baha'i Intercontinental Conference. Stockholm, I aa sorry to bave been so long in Sweden-July 21-26 Hpl.Jt111& to your letter of lStb. Marcil, I a.a ver)' glad to send you the f ollowing •esaace 4th Baha'i Intercontinental tor th4 success or yo11r Cent enary Celebration• I· Conference, New Delhi, • on 'beh<' or tb.e tin llillion peopl e India-October 7-15 of all races and taitla i n the Feasts: Federation ot ..la1a, I wiah the 1953 Centebary Celebrations ot the June 5-Nur, Light llaba' i 1'a1th all possi ble auccesa, ""i11D119 Ull ! H r'IUJ'r1;llaV)'OiU-Y...... ,,.,.... _ _ June 24-Ral;tmat, Mercy elld... voura will brlJlg cl.ot1e:r tJlat July 13-Kalimat, Words • ra ot wnverul hllowabip &!Id pea~ • .b1ch •• are all atr1v111&, in National Assembly Meetings: our different. •&7•, to bring abo11t . • June 12 , 13, 14 July 10, 11, 12 /i \ Summer School Sessions: Geyserville - June 28 to August 2, 1953 Louhelen - July 5 to Sep tember 7, 1953 Green Acre-July 13 to Sep tbe Secreta17, tember 7, 1953 the Baba'1 Jubilee Co mmi t tee, 130, Co11ati tution llo118a, International School - July ... Delhi, lllW... 19 to Aug. 2, 1953

.. ----·----··,.- - ·- - - --..,------~ "MA.RRIAGES ]

Photostatic copy of letter from Gener al Sir Ger a ld Templar sent to the India Centener ay Celebration in New Delhi. Salt Lake City. Utah, Miss Helga Johnson to Mr. Carroll Hummel. January 15 , 1953 Wa shington, D.C., Miss Marjorie New ' NEW PUBLICATIONS IN MEMOR I AM man to Mr. David Nixon. April 4, 1953 J Los Angeles, California, Miss Gloria Dor ian to Mr. Hiram E. Webb. Date not The Bab's Address to the Letters Mrs. Anna Flagg, Milford, Ohio, April reported of the Living. Attractively printed 2, 1953 San Francisco, Calif. , Miss Sophia M . in green ink on grey paper. 4 pp., 8112 Dr. Evangeline Caven, Encino, Calif. Dell'Orto to Mr. Wesley Baker, April by 5112. Each, $.10; 50 copies, $4.50. April 5, 1953 18, 1953 Los Angeles, California, Miss Annette Literature Catalogs have been sent Dr. Robert Pettet, Lake Geneva, Wis. Dingham to Mr . Ken Frederics April to all librarians and regular accounts Apr il 18 , 1953 18 , 1953 as well as special, individual re Mrs. Ida Tilson, Milw aukee, Wis. , April Toledo, Ohio, Mr s. Irene M. Hughes to quests. Additional copies may be or 10 , 1953 Mr. Marvin Bibby March 27 , 1953 Los Angeles, Calif., Miss Patricia Ann dered at five cents each to cover Tilton to Mr . John F. Gibson April 18 , mailing and handling. 1953

BAHA'I NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. Copies are sent without charge to Baha'is throughout the United States, and to Baha'i administrative bodies in other lands. Its purpose is to keep members of the Faith informed of international, national and local Baha"i developments, and serve as an organ for the distribu· hon of messages written by the Guardian of the Faith, the International Baha'i Council, and the general announcements pre· pared by the American National Spiritual Assembly. Reports, plans, news items and photographs of general interest are requested from national committees and local assemblies of the United States as well as from National Assemblies of other lands. Material is due in Wilmette on the first day of the month preceding the date of issue for which it is intended. BAHA'I NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee. The Committee for 1952-1953: Mrs. Eunice Braun, Managing Editor; Mr. William C. Henning, Miss Farrukh Ioas, Mrs. Ruth Jones, Miss Joan Lozier, Mr. Robert Moul. Editorial Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. Change of Address should be reported directly to National Baha'i Administrative Headquarters. 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette , Illinois, U.S.A.