The Auxiliary Board Members -A Rich Resource
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U. S. SUPPLEMENT No. 108 BAHA'I YEAR 123 FEBRUARY 1967 The Auxiliary Board Members -a Rich Resource To establish the Faith of Baha'u'llAh on an unassail- emphasized by the Universal House of Justice in its able foundation throutghout the world, we have need of Ridvin Message of 1966, when it said that the propaga- all the resources of that great Administrative Order tion and consolidation of the Cause must go hand in provided for us by 'Abdu'l-BahA's Will and Testament hand. The purpose of the Auxiliary Boards is, not only and the messages of the beloved Guardian. The Univer- to proclaim the Faith, but also, primarily, to deepen sal House of Justice, with its infallible judgment, has the believers and stimulate them to teach. given us a divinely inspired Plan. The Hands of the Cause of God, in close cooperation with the Universal Freed from Administrative Responsibilities House of Justice, promulgate and protect the Faith In order to devote themselves to this important task, throughout the world, working with the National Spirit- they have been freed from administrative duties. They ual Assemblies, which provide the means for achieving may not serve on assemblies or committees. If one of the goals of the Plan and guide the activities of the them should be elected, for instance, to a National local Spiritual Assemblies, groups, and isolated believ- Spiritual Assembly, he must choose between that ser- ers. All these institutions, acting harmoniously tageth- vice and membership on the Auxiliary Board. But these er, can by their unity attract such confirmations of the deputies of the Hands work in close cooperation with Holy Spirit as can enable us to achieve undreamed of the administrative bodies and may be called upon for victories far exceeding the goals of the Nine Year Plan. assistance by the assemblies, national and local, by groups, and by isolated believers. Functions Designated by the Guardian We may invite them to give public lectures, but they The members of the Auxiliary Boards, designated by are not to be thought of as mere itinerant speakers. the Guardian as "deputies, advisors, assistants" of the Wherever they go to proclaim the Faith, they arrange Hands of the Cause of God, are an important source of to meet with the believers alone, if possible. Their inspiration upon which we may all draw. Through the greatest concern is to increase the knowledge and Hands of the Cause, from whom they derive their enthusiasm of the Baha'is. For, in the last analysis, it is authority and by whom they are directed, they partake on the individual Baha'i that the reponsibility for the of the honor and assume the obligations of that institu- health and vigor of the Cause depends. tion which Baha'u'lliih praised when, referring to the Hands whom He Himself appointed, He said: "Through Deepen and Inspire the Believers them the standards of Thy oneness were raised in Thy A local Spiritual Assembly may call upon a member cities and realms and the banners of Thy sanctity of the Auxiliary Board for help in the solution of were uplifted in Thy Kingdom." problems, but. this too is a matter of deepening. The More specifically, 'Abdu'l-BahA, in His Will and Tes- Auxiliary Board member does not solve the problem. tament, charged the Hands of the Cause with the Rather, he brings to the attention of the believers the obligation "to diffuse the Divine Fragrances," "to edify spiritual principle on which the solution depends, or, if the souls of men," and to protect the Covenant (pp 12 the problem is an administrative one, he may point out and 13), and Shoghi Effendi referred to them in 1951 as 'the administrative channel to which it should be re- "Members august body, invested in conformity with ferred. And always he inspires the Bahi'is to teach. 'Abdu'l-Bahk's Testament, two fold sacred function, the Many problems, such as those of personal disagree- propagation and preservation of the unity of the Faith ment, simply disappear when the Bahii'is are so busy of Baha'u711Ah, and destined to assume individually in teaching that they forget all minor preoccupations and when, in deepening new believers, they deepen them- the course of time the direction of institutions parallel- selves. ing those revolving around the Universal House of When a problem of defection from the Covenant, Justice . ." (Messages to Baha'i World, p. 21). actual or suspected arises, we may ask the Auxiliary The members of the Auxiliary Boards are adjuncts of Board members in our areas to help us determine that body. Appointed because of their devotion, their how to proceed. They are ready to advise us, but, deep knowledge of the Faith, and their spiritual energy, without specific instructions from the Hands of the they can so infuse these qualities into the body of the Cause themselves, they are debarred, like the rest of believers as to give us new life. Their duties in promul- us, from making any contact with a declared Covenant- gating the Faith coincide exactly with the dual process breaker. The presence of defectors in our vicinity FEBRUARY 1967 should, of course, be reported at once to the National Spiritual Assembly. For the sake of convenience and efficiency, certain regions of North America are assigned to certain Auxil- iary Board members, individually and in teams. These assignments for April, 1966, to April, 1967, along with an account of "The Functions and Relationship of the The Bib showed the importance of the new Age Hands of the Cause and Auxiliary Board Members" are which He came to announce by starting a new calen- to be found in an insert in BAHA'~NEWS, of August, 1966. dar. Baha'u'lldh upheld this new measurement of time We should not hesitate to draw on this rich resource. for the world of today and tomorrow. The Baha'i year Because they are in close communication with the has 19 months and each month has 19 days. This comes Hands of the Cause of God and because they are free to 361 days. However the earth takes 365% days in its from administrative duties, these dedicated men and journey around the sun. That means there are four women, "unrestrained as the wind," can, like a breath days (five days in "leap years", that is, every fourth of fresh air blowing through our local communities, year) which must be added or put into the calendar. clear and sweeten the atmosphere in which we are all This is the meaning of the word "intercalary" (pro- striving, in our limited spheres, to serve the Cause of nounced in-TER-ka-lary). The Intercalary Days are the Blessed Beauty. between the 18th Baha'i month (February 7-25) and the -4arreta Busey 19th Baha'i month (March 2-20). The Intercalary Days, called "Ayyim-i-HA"* have been named by BahA'u'llah as days to be specially devoted to hospitality, to the giving of presents and gifts, visiting and looking after the sick and the poor. These days and activities are both a joyous time of fellowship and service to others, as well as a time of Important Information About Housing preparation for the spiritual experience of the Fast which follows immediately after the close of Ayyim-i- for the National Convention HA. First comes the happy expression of Baha'i love and brotherhood carried out in actions of kindness to- It is no longer possible to provide housing in private wards others, and then comes the time of the Fast homes in Wilmette or Evanston for numbers of Baha'is. when we Baha'is seek our full ration of spiritual food Any who have maintained satisfactory arrangements in through special remembrance of God. such homes in previous years and wish to return this -Based on letter by year should make their own personal arrangements. NATIONALSPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF INDIA Those wishing to stay at hotels or motels should make *See Bahh'i Glossary their own reservations promptly and comply with any arrangements required, such as a deposit or payment for the rooms in advance. There are no hotels in Wilmette. The following hotels and motels are nearby. The address, telephone number and daily rates (not Ed Robert's Colonial Hotel; 9101 Waukegan Road; including tax) are given in each instance. Morton Grove ; 966-9600. Single $8.00 to $9.00; double $10.30 to $12.40; twin $12.40; HOTELS $2.00 extra for each child up to 12 years of age. Orrington Hotel; 1710 Orrington Avenue; UN 4-8700. Glenview Motel; 1829 Waukegan Road; Glenview; PA Single $8.00 to $16.00; double $12.00 to $19.00. Two double 4-9835. beds in 'one room for four persons $25.00. Single $7.00; double $9.00; twin (3) $15.00; twin (4) Evanshire Hotel; 860 Hinman Avenue; UN 4-8800. $18.00; (5) $21.00. $1.00 extra for each child from 2 to Single $7.00; double beginning at $9.00; twin $12.00. 12 years of age. Library Plaza Hotel; 1637 Orrington Avenue; UN 4-8000. Holiday Inn; Edens at Lake-Cook Road; Highland Single $8.00; double $12.00. Park; VE 5-4000. North Shore Hotel; 1611 Chicago Avenue; UN 4-6400. Sin,gle $12.50 or $15.50; double $17.50 or $21.50. Single $8.50 to $10.50; double $11.50 to $13.50. Hyatt House; 4500 Touhy Avenue; Lincolnwood; 677- YMCA Hotel; 1000 Grove Street; GR 5-7400. 5400. Men only. $3.60 per night; reservations requested.