--Issue No. 1 December 1924:
Space does not permit in this number of the News Letter to give an adequate survey of the many important meetings that have been held during the past few months.
Space does not permit in this number of the News Letter to give an adequate survey of the many important meetings that have been held during the past few months.
On September 26th, 27th and 28th, under the chairmanship of
Mrs. Cooper, the Teaching Committee of the Western States Region held its
second annual Baha’i Conference and Congress, at the California Club, San
Francisco. The sessions of the Conference were attended by delegates from
twenty-one Assemblies, including Honolulu and British Columbia. It was the
Western States Region which first inaugurated this ideal method of linking
together the local Assemblies for consultation in response to Abdu’l-Baha’s
advices in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. No other method can overcome the
inherent difficulties presented by the size of this country and Canada, and as
time goes on we can confidently expect that such regional conventions will
assume a significance second only to that of the National Convention itself.
The public meetings presented the teachings to many interested people, the addresses
being delivered by Willard P. Hatch, Howard MacNutt, George Latimer, and the
Baha’i Juniors under the direction of Mrs. Kathryn Frankland.
On October 17th and 18th, the Teaching Committee of the
Central States held a Convention in the Foundation Hall of the Temple at
Wilmette, preceded by a feast given by the Chicago Assembly in the studio of
Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois.
During the sessions of this Convention, effective methods of presenting the Message were explained by experienced teachers, particularly with relation to the Baha’i education of the young. A public meeting was held in the Foundation Hall on Sunday, October 19th, with addresses by Charles Mason Remey, Mrs. Stuart W. French and Jinabi Fadil. The teaching work now being carried on by Jinabi Fadil in the western states will be described in a later number of the News Letter.
The recent general letter of the Philadelphia Assembly gave
us all inspiring news of the success of the Convention for Amity held in
Witherspoon Building on October 22nd and 23rd. Since Mrs. Parsons received the
original instructions from Abdu’l-Baha concerning the importance of these
meetings of reconciliation between the white and colored races in America, four
Amity Conventions have been held. In the face of deep-rooted prejudice, the
Philadelphia Assembly gave a demonstration of the new spirit of unity which
made a deep impression on all who had the privilege to attend these meetings.
The Baha’i Message was presented at the first session by Albert Vail and at the
second session by Hooper Harris.
The Montreal Assembly reports a most successful public
meeting held in the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton on Friday, October 24th,
Sutherland Maxwell chairman. Dr. John Herman Randall of New York City spoke on
the Cause, and afterward declared that he had never felt a more responsive
audience. Given due preparation, and effective speakers, the Message of Baha is
the most powerful magnet in the world. The Assembly which once experiences this
power can never again be satisfied with small, private meetings.
Since the return of Shoghi Effendi to Haifa, the most
important news of the Cause outside this country has been the great interest
with which the two papers on the Baha’i Cause were received by the audience
attending the Conference of Some Living Religions within the British Empire,
held at the Imperial Institute, London, from September 22nd to October 3rd.
Quoting from a general letter from the Spiritual Assembly of London, dated
November 12th: “The paper which presented the Baha’i Message was the product of
consultation and cooperation, and was read by Mr. Mountfort Mills, the delegate
from the Canadian Baha’is, in clear and reverent tones reaching every part of
the large hall, and was listened to with wrapt attention. Through the guidance
of Abdu’l- Baha the text was clearly inspired by his spirit, which was felt by
all the believers.
“Ruhi Afnan then spoke in faith and wisdom, his youth and
enthusiasm winning all hearts to a close attention to the Baha’i teachings he
gave with sincerity and conviction. The power of the spiritual Presence was
like a baptism. We felt the outpouring which Abdu’l-Baha foretold would awaken
the world with the Divine Message, and this must have been reflected in all
hearts who were praying with us for the illumination of the world on that day
of great opportunity.”