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T_I-IE BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES AND cANADA 48 .WEST 10th STREET, NEW YORK CITY A PRIL. 192? SPECIAL NUMBER OF NEWS LETTER WITH ANNUAL REPORTS This issue of the News Lztter inaugurates what may well become an 'annual. practice: the publication of committee reports in advance of the Convention, so that delegates and friends may possess knowledge of current problem and activities before the sessions begin, and thus be able to devote their time to constructive deliberatidn; The ‘plan of issuing the reports at this time was conceived too Iate to enable 'al1I-connnittees to prepare them by the date set,_a circumstance which can be prevented next year. We hope that all delegates will find it possible to study the reports carefully and conscientiously, and bring or send to the Convention such useful comments or suggestions as occur to each deiegaxe personally or are advanced by his fellow-workers. A Convention composed of wel]-informed delegates can accomplish infinitely more than one most of whose time must be devoted to the absorbing of the very facts required for material efliciency or an atmosphere favorable to collective wisdom and insight. Much of the detail which hitherto has taken up the first two days of each Convtntion can now be accomplished ‘through the advance publication of committee reports and other necessary data, with the result that th furthcoming annual meeting shouldgté able to estzlblis-h a new standard of spiritual accomplishment. The present News Letter is notable, above all, in that it contains two letters from Shoghi Effendi which illumine many fundamental issues anxious-Iy pondered by the believers, -work"-to hasten the fulfilment of the divine Assurance. GUESTS Ali Llonvcntion sessions will be held at Hotel Winrls0r_ Montreal. the at which thc Master stayewzl during His visit to Montreal in 1913. The L'nnve11tion will be opened at 9 F 1-iday, April 29. and continue through Saturrlay. April 30 and Sunclay, May 1. If so voted by the delegates. the Convention can remain active one or more additional days. The Ridvan Feast will be held Thursday evening, April 33. The cost is $2.50 per pel’s'on. It is hoped that at least fifty reservations will be made for rooms at the Windsor, in order to secure-the use of the Convention hall without charge. Single rooms from $3.00. Double rooms from $5.00. Less expensive rooms can be obtained at the Corona Hotel. Singie rooms from $2.00. Double rooms from The Spiritual Assembiy of Montreal will joyously extend all possible hospitality to delegates and visiting Baha'is who would prefer to remain during the Convention as guests in the homes of local believers. We understand that the Montreal Assembly is planning to issue a general letter early in April with all the details of the Convention arrangernents. All inquiries should be sent to Montreal Ba.ha’i Asserrrbly, Room 25. 747 St. Catherine Street West. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Registration of Delegates forms. and first ballot of absent delegates, may be sent to Bahafi Convention at the above address, or to -Baha’i Convention, Hotei Windsor, up to the opening of the Convention on April 29. LETTERS FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI Dearly-Ileloved brothers and sisters in Bahia : The trend oi various events, ing directly and indirectly the interests of th* Bahzfi Cause. have of late served to mg into further prominence the character as well as the significance of :1 Faith destined to regenerate the world. Of all diverse issues which today are gradually tending to consolidate and extend the bounds of the Revelation of the decision of Eg-ypt’s religious Tribunal regarding the Bahifis under its jurisdiction appears at the present moment to be the most powerful in its challenge, the most startiing in its character, and the must perplexing in the consequences it may entail. I have already alluded in my letter of January 10,1926, addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahifis of the United States and Canada. to a particular feature of this momentous verdict. which after mature deliberation has obtained the sanction of Eg)-pt’s highest ecclesiastical Authoritics. has been communicatecl and printed, and is regarded as final and binding. I have stressed in my last reference to this far-reaching pronouncement the negative aspect of this document which condemns in most unequivocal and emphatic language the followers of as the believers in heresy, ofiensive and injurious to Islam. and wholly incompatible 1-vith the accepted doctrines and practise of its orthodox adherents. A closer study of the text of the decision will, however, reveal the that coupled with this strong denunciaIion is' the positive assertion of a truth which thé fecognizcd opponents of the Faith in other Muhammedan countries have up to the present time either sedulousljv ignored or maliciously endeavored to disprove. Not content diati-on of the so-called menacing and heretical doctrines of the adherents of

BAI-IA’I NEWS LETTER NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY of the Bahafis of th: United States and Canada Mien McDaniel Horace Holley Carl . . . . Roy C. Wilhehu Florence Morton Amelia Collins Ali Kuii Chairman Secretary Trcasurtr C-able address : Balmi, New York the Bahifi Faith, they proceed in a formal manner to declare in the text of that ‘very decision their belief, that the Faith is a "new religion,” "entirely independent" and, by reason of the magnitude of its claim and the character. of its "laws, principles and beliefs," worthy to be reckoned as one of the established religious systems of the world. Quoting various passages judiciously gleaned from a number of sacred Books as an evidence to theit testimony, they proceed in a notable statement to deduce the fact that henceforth it shall be regarded as impossible for the followers of such a Faith to be designated as Muslim, just as it would be incorrect and erroneous to call a lluhammedan either Christian or Jew. It cannot be denied that in the course of the inevitable developments of this present situation the resident Bahé'is of Egypt, originally belonging to the Muslim Faith, will be -placed in a most humiliating and embarrassing position. the knowledge that whereas in various Muhammedan countries and particularly in Persia the overwhelming majority of the leaders of Islam are utterly ppgosed to _any form of declarationithaf would facilitate the universal recognition of the Cause. the authorized heads of their co-religionists in one inf the most advanced communities iii the Muhammedan world have, of their own initiative. published to the world a document that justly be termed as the first charter of liberty emancijmating the Faith from the fetters .of orthodox Islam. And in order to ensure the complete rupture of official relations with Muslim Courts lav down in unmistakable the condition that under no circumstances can the marriage of those Bahrlfis who have been required to divorce their Muslim wives be renewed by the Muslim Court unless and until the husbands formally recant their faith by solemnly declaring that the Qur’an is the “last" Book of God rcvcaled to man, that no ‘law can abrogate the Prophet's Law. no faith can succeed His Faith, revelation can claim to fulfill His Revelation. unwavering in their belief in the Divine station of the Author of the Qur'an and profoundly convinced of the necessity and world-wide influence of His Divine mission, Bahéfis in every land stand undeterred and unabashed in the face of the strong condemnation pronounced against their brethren in Egypt.- Indeed, they together with their fellow-workers in all Muslim countries welcome with gladness and pride every opportunity for further emancipation that they may set forth in a truer light the sublime mission of In the face of such an outspoken and challenging declaration, the Bahifis of the 'West cannot but feel the deepest sympathy with their Egyptian brethren who. for the sake of our beloved Cause and its deliverance, have to face all the embarrassments and vexations which the severance of old-established ties must necessarily entail. They will, however, most certainly expect every staunch and loyal believer in the Faith who resides in that land to refrain in view of the grave warning uttered expressly by our opponents. from any practice that would in any manner constitute in the eyes of a critical and vigilant enemy a repudiation of the fundamental beliefs of the people of Bahé. They will most assuredly, whenever the moment is opportune. step forth with eager hearts to offer every support in their power to their fellow-workers who. with stout hearts and irreproachable loyalty. will continue to hold aloft the standard of struggling Faith. They will not fail to come to the rescue of those who with joyous confidence will endure to the very end such vicissitudes as this New Day of God, now in its birth-throes. must needs suffer and surmount. W’: cannot believe that as the Movement grows in strength. in authority and in influence. the perplexities and the sufferings it has had to contend with in the past will correspondingly decrease and vanish. Nay, as it grows from strength to strength, the fanatical defendants of the strongholds of orthodoxy. whatever be their denomination, realizing the nenetrating uence of this growing Faith, will arise and strain every nerve to extinguish its light and discredit its name. For has not our beloved sent forth His glowing prophecy from behind the prison walls of the citadel of so significant in their forecast of the coming world -turmoil, so rich in their promise of eventuai “How great, how very is the Cause; how very fierce the onslaught of all ‘the peoples and kindreds of the mrth! Ereiong shat’! the clamaur of the muititude thraughout Africa, throughout America, the cry of the European and of the Turk, the groaning of India and China be heard frdm far and near. One and all they shall wise with all their power to resist His Came. Then shall the Knight: of the Lord, assisted by grace from on high, sfrengthened by faith, aided by the power of understarrdiaxg and reinforced by the legions of the Covenant, a-n'se and make manifest the truth of the verse: ‘Behold the confusion that hath befaiien the tribes of the defeated." " Dearly-beloved friends, upon as devolves the supreme obligation to stand by His side, to fight His battles and to win His victory. May we prove ourselves worthy of this trust. Your true brother, Snocm. I-Iaifav Palestine. Februarv 12, 1927. To the members of the Nationai Spiritual Assembiy of the of the U railed States and Canada. Dear and precious fellow-workers in the Vineyard of God The communications addressed to me by your indefatigable and distinguished secretary, dated October 28, November 8, ll, 18, December 4, 16 and January 27th, have been received. and together with their enclosures read and carefully noted. I cannot but admire the spirit of unrelaxing resolvc and harmonious cooperation with which you are conducting the ever-expanding activities of the Cause in a land upon which our Beloved has lavished His richest blessings, and for the spiritual potentialities of which He cherished the brightest hopes. The ‘vigorous efforts you are exerting to consolidate the forces which the Almighty has placed in your hands; the resourcefulness you display by the measures you have initiated for the furtherance of the Cause; the magnificent response with which you have met the piteous cal-1 of your sufiering brethren of the East—aiI proclaim your worthiness of the unexampled efforts which, in your country more than in any other land. ’Abdu’l-Baha has exerted for the spread of the Revelation of

in connection with the World Unity Conferences, which you have organized, I desire to assure you of my hfeartielt appreciation of sqch a splendid conception. I am profoundly impressed by the generous assistance spontaneously offered by those who, faithful to their other obligations, have risen‘ to ensure the financial success of such a. noble Plan. I am grateful to those Local Assemblies and individuals who have given it their whole-hearzecl support in their respective fields. As to the policy that should be adopted with regard to these Conferences and other Bahé.'i activities in general, it appears increasingly evident that as the Movement grows in srrength and power the National Spiritual Assemblies should be encouraged, if circumstances permit and the means at their disposal justify, to resort to the twofold method of directly and indirectlj-' winning the enlightened pubiie to the unqualified acceptance of the Bahifi Faith. The one method would assume an open, decisive and challenging tone. The implying in any manner the slightest departure from strict loyalty to the Cause of God, would be progressive and cautious. Experienee will reveal the fact that each of the methods in its own special way might suit a particular temperament and class of pcopie, and that each in the present state of a constantiy fluctuating society. should be judiciously attempted and utilized. It is. I feel, for the National representatives of the believers in every land to utilize and combine both methods, the outspoken as well as the gradual, in such a manner as to secure the greatest benefits and the fullest advantage for this steadily-growing Cause. Every staunch and high-minded believer is thoroughly convinced of the unfailing efficacy of every humanitarian undertaking which boldly and unreservedly proclaims the source of its motive power to be the consciousness of the Revelation of Baha'u’IIah. Yet. if we but call to mind the practice generally adapted by ’Abdu’l-Bahia, we cannot fail to perceive the wisdom. nay the necessity, of gradually and cantiously disclosing to the eyes of an unheliev-ing world the implications of a Truth ivhfch, by its own challenging nature. it is so difficult for it to comprehend and embrace. It was He, our beloved Bahia. our true and shining Exemplar, who with infinite tact and patience, whether in His public utterances or in private converse. adapted the presentation of the fundamentals of tht Cams: to the varying capacities and the BAHA’I NEWS LETTER spiritual receptivities of His hearers. He never hesitated, however, to tear the veil asunder and reveal to the spiritually ripened those challenging verities that set forth in its true light the relationship of this Suprerne Revelation with the Dispensations oi the PastUnashamed and unafraid when chalI-enged to assert in itS entirety the stupendous claim of Baha.'u‘1lah, Bahéfis, whether laboring as individuals or functioning as an organized community, feel certain that in the face of the apathy, the gross materialism, and the superficiality of society today, a. progrcssive disclosure of the magnitude of the ciaim of would constirute the most effective means for the attainment of the end so greatly desired by even the staunchest and most zealous advocate of the Faith. Fully aware of the repeated statements of "Abdu’1-Bahé. that universality is of God, Bahéfis in every land are ready, nay anxious. to associate themselves by word and deed with any £1550-Ciation of men which, after careful scrutiny, they feed satisfied is free from every tinge of pa-rtisanship and politics and is wholly devoted to the interests of all mankind. In their collaboration with such associat=nn.s they would extend any moral and material assistance they can afford, after having fulfilled their share of support to those institutions that affect directly the interests of the Cause. They should 2.1ways _bear in mind, however, the dominating purpose of such a. collaboration which is to secure in time the recognition by chose with whom they are associated of the paramount necessity and the true significance oi the Bahéfi Revelation in this day. As the Movement extends the bounds of its influence and its opportunities for t'uI_Ier recognition multipiy, the twofold character of the obligations imposed on its Natiqnzgl elected representatives should, I feel. be increasingly emphasized. ‘Whilst chiefly engaged in the pursuit of their major task, consisting chiefly in the formation and the consolidation of administrative institutions, they should endeavor to participate. within recognized limits. in the work of institutions which though unaware of the claim of the Cause are prompted by a sincere desire to promote the spirit that anirnates the Faith. In the pursuit OE their major task their function is to preserve the identity of the Cause and the purity of the mission of Baha.’u’1lah. In their minor undertaking their purpose should be to imbue with the spirit of power and strength such movements as in their restricted scope are endeavoring t0 achieve what is near and dear to the heart of every true Bahéfi. It would even appear at Limes to be advisable and helpful as a supplement to their work for the to initiate any undertaking, not specifically designated as Bahéfi, provided they have ascertained that such an undertaking would constitute the best way of approach to those whose minds and hearts are as yet unprepared for a full acceptance of the claim of These twofold obligations devolving upon organized communities, far from neutralizing the of one another. or of appearing antagonistic in their aims, should be regarded as complementary and fulfilling, each in its way, a. vital and necessary function. It is the National representatives of the Cause to observe the conditions under which they labor. to estimate the forces thax are at work in their own surroundings, to weigh carefully and prayerfully the merits of either procedure, and to form a correct judgment as to the degree of emphasis that should be placed upon these twofold methods. Then and only then will they be enabled to protect and stimulate on one hand the independent growth of the Bahéfi Faith, and on the other vindicate the claim of its universal principles to the doubtful and unbelieving’. I have already considered these delicate and complex issues with the Bahéfi representatives whom I have requested to gather in the Holy Land in the hope of arriving at the best possible solution of the pressing and intricate problems that confront the development of the Bahéfi Cause. I have asked our dearly-beloved brother, Mr. Mountfort Mills, whose services to the Cause only future generations can estimate, to acquaint you with these and other considerations, the delicacy and scope of which only a verbal explanation can adequately reveal. He will fully and authoritatively inform you regarding the policy that should govdm the conduct of the Star of the West. the character and the range of the BaBibliography to be inserted in the next edition of the Year Book. the present position of House in Bagdad. the hopes and desires I cherish for the successful conclusion of the Plan of Unified Action. and the consequences and possibilities involved in the decision of Egypt's religious Tribunal regarding the Muslim Bahéfis in that land. The splendid record of the _action taken. by the National and Local representatives of the of the Um'ted States and Canada. embodied in the compilation of newspaper cuttings

which you have recently sent me, will be forwarded to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahéfis of Persia. I wiil request them to pass it on from hand hand, that the rank and file of the sutferers in that distracted country may obtain strength and solace which the perusal of such a noble record of service is bound to produce. Regarding the Publicity Campaign, recently launched, with your consent and under your general supervision, by a group of devoted friends, I desire to express my earnest hope that it may be richly blessed by our Beloved and yield abundant fruit. I am gratified to learn that those who have conceived such a. comprehensive plan and have generously it by every means in their power have refrained from any acticm that would Involve the imposing of a fresh burden upon those who haw: incurred the financial obligations connected with the Budget Plan. I earnestly hope that those who have undertaken to finance this projcct with such Spontaneous generosity have already fulfilled their sacred obligations in connection with the Plan, and will not allow any pledges they have made for Publicity to interfere with their regular contributions to the National fund. the paramount importance of which has already been emphasized. It is the duty and privilege of the National and Local --kssemblies if they find that the pressing requirements of their local and national budgets have been adequately met, to encourage inrlividuals and groups to initiate and conduct, with their knowledge and consent. any undertaking that would serve to enhance the work which they have set themselves to achieve. Not content with appeals addressed to each and every believer to offer any constructive suggestions or plan that would remedy an existing grievance, they should, by every means in their power, stimulate the spirit of enterprise among the believers in order to further the Teaching as well as the administrative work of the Cause. The)’ should endeavor by personal contact and written appeals. to imbue the body of the faithful with a deep sense of personal responsibility, and urge every believer. whether high or low, poor or wealthy. to conceive, formulate, and execute such measures and projects as would redound, in the eyes of their representatives, to the power and the fair name of this sacred Cause. In my hours of prayer at the holy Shrines, I will supplicate that the light of Divine Guidance may illumine your path. and "enable you to utilize in the most effective manner that spirit of BAHA’I NEWS LETTER indiviclual enterprise which, once kinnllcd in the breasts of each and every belicver and directed by the discipiine of the majestic Law of Baha'u’IIah. imposed upon us. will carry our beloved Cause forward to achieve its glorious destiny, Your true brother, Saosuz. Haifa. Palestine. February 20, 192?’. ANNUAL THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY 1926-1927 The completion of a Baha'i cycie of nineteen years is marked -by this year's Convention at Montreal. The present Convenpion has the added significance that it is the first national meeting of the American believers to be held in Canada. Could we but see these years uf efiort and unfoldmenn in proper perspecrive. it would undoubtedly be possible for us to recognize the gradual growth of a Baha'i body or form corresponding to the new spirit of this age. Each year has brought its own contribution to the process, and we are at present witnesses so many signs which indicate that this national body of service is becoming more and more capable 05 collectjve inspiration and unified effort. The Guardian of the Cause has given us the key note the present phase of Baha'i development in that phrase “a wise handling of the forces released by Baha'u'l1ah’s arrn." By these words we are led to perceive more clearly and feel more zleeply the fact that there has been a turning point in our collective sciousness from an almost exclusive considerapion of the internal affairs of the Cause to the first attempts to solve the supreme problem of making suitable and effective contacts with the surrounding public. just as the growing youth leaves behind the stage of self-consciousness and awkwardness and at a certain time enters upon the stage maturity, so the Cause in America with the completion of this nineteen year cycle can be said to have traversed the trials of immaturity and to have entered at last the age of maturity and power. The delegates present at San Francisco last year will recall how much anxious consideration was given to the terrible conditions confronted by the believers in many parts of Persia. :1 days after the Convention cablegram arrived from Shoghi Effendi stating that twelve Baha'is had been martyred in the town of Iahrum and about twenty houses pillaged, and requesting us to appeal to the Shah. .-1 cablegram was sent in the narne of ational Assembly to the Shah of Persia from San Francisco early in May and the news of these atrocities and our action was sent out by the Associated Press in Los Angeies a few days aim-ward.. To continue this important subject further. The National Assembly on July 12, 1926, wrote the Shah of Persia. a detailed appeal and reprints of this were during the next few months placed in the Hands of believers throughout the United States and Canada, ali foreign Assemblies. the newspapers. of thé Persian Cabinet, the Arnerican State Department, the President, his cabinet all members of the Senate and the House. the British Foreign thc League of Nations, and an extenlist ui influential religious and other organizations. Through whole-hearted cooperation of can As-semblies and grnups, a statemant of the events in Persia. was published in many newspapers and a file uf these clippings sent to the Guardian in 1927. None of the friends will ever forget the beautiful hospitality extended to the delegates -by the San Francisco Assembly last year, nor the extensive preparations made by all the Western Assemblies in providing opportunities for public addresses by all the teachers who found it possible to visit the semblies along the Pacific Coast or after the Convention. Another international matter taken up by the Convention in 1926 was :.he seizure of the House of Ba,ha’u’llah in We have since been informed by the Guardian that steps have been taken by the authorities which will eventually restore this sacred property to the Cause. Mr. 3-Iountfort Hills rendered nota.-ble services in connection with this grave problem and we may ex-pect_ from him a detailed statement of all the circumstances surrounding the Baha’i Shrine. It is our privilege now to review the communications received from the Guardian this year. Shoghi Effendi’s cablegram of May 6 on the subject of the martyrdoms in Persia has already been mentioned. On September 10. through Bahiyyih Khanum, the Guardian cabled in reply to a message sent by a committee of the annual meeting of the Green Acre Feilowship informing him that the Fellowship had confirmed its vote of the previous year to place Green Acre under the super vision of the National Assembly. In this cablegram the Guardian expressed the hope that this newly confirmed union would achieve its purpose by increasingly demonstrating the univer

BAHA’I NEWS LETTER sality of the Baha'i Cause. A few weeks later, also through Bahiyyih Khanum, Shoghi Effendi cabled an acknowledgment of our appeal to the Shah and informed us that the criminals were still unpunished and the indifferent. On September 25 we received a cablegram reierring to the visit of Queen Marie of Rummania. in which the Guardian asked that the friends refrain from communicating with her unless the National Assembly sanctioned it. On Ozitober 16 the Guardian cabled that the case of the House in Bagdad was progressing most favorably. On October 25 Shoghi Effendi cabled to ask for one hundred copies of the Baha'i Year Book, and on the following day informed us that Mirza Maqami and Mirza Benan. distinguished Persian believers, were cm their way to the United States. On October 28 the Guardian requested the Xational Assembly to extend to Queen .\[arie a cordial expression of Baha'i appreciation and gratitude for her remarka-ble services to the Cause. On December 13 the Guardian cabled to urge the hastening of the incorporation of the Baha'i body in the U. S. and Canada. This subject will he referred to later on in the present report. A second message referring to the subject of incorporation was received on December 15. The Guardian sent a cabled expression of his grief at the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Macnutt on December 29. 1926. On February 24, 1927, the Guardian iniormed us that Mountfort Mills after rendering most valuable services in London and the Holy Land was preceding temporarily to the U. S. to rleli-berate with the National Assembly on issues affecting the international status of the Cause. adding that his statements were flllly authorized. On February 26 we received the sad news that Afnan Mirza Mohsen, the Belovecfs s-0n-inlaw and distinguished servant of the Cause had ascended to the Abha Kingrlom. All the fore-going cablegrams which referred to subjects of general interest have been given to the friends in the pages of the N EWS LETTER. The letters received the Guardian this year have deepened our inand enlarged our understanding -15 those problems §rising inevitably at .1 time “then the Cause is undergoing .1 transition from internal to external problems, a. time coinciding, as we all ftzlljr appreciate. with a series of new and unprecedented conditions affecting humanity in all parts of the world. The first letter received from Sho-ghi after the 1926 Convention was one addressed to the believers zhroughout the West and dated April 23, 1926. In this letter we were given the heart-tending details of the occurances in Persia. The next communication was addressed to the members of the National Assembly and dated May 11. In this letter the Guardian made the significant statement that the day may not be far distant when we shall witness, as we have observed elsewhere, the promised signs of Divine Retribution avenging the Mood of the slaughtered servants of Baha'u'l1ah. A forceful reminder of the Plan of Unified Action was also made in this comthe Guardian writing to the effect that the friends must be constantly reminded of the vital necessity for a continuous and whole-hearted support of the scheme. the success or failure oi which will, to a marked extent. aifect the course of the progress of the Cause not only in North America but throughout the Baha'i world. the friends recall. and ever hear in mind. the repeated exhortatiflns and glowing promises of our beloved Master with reference to the Mashriqu'l— .\dhl-car, the crowning institution in every Baha'i community." .-‘mother passage we should bear in mind in that letter is as follows: “The administrative machinery of the Cause having now sufficiently evolved, its aim and object fairly well grasped and understood. and its method and working made more familiar to every believer. I feel the time is ripe when it should be fuliy and consciously utilized to further the purposes for which it has heen created. It should, I strongly feel. be made to serve a two-fold purpose. On one hand it should aim at a steady and gradual expansion of the Movement along fines that are at once hroad. sound and universal; and on the other it should insure the intcrnai consolidation of the work already achieved. It should both provide the impulse vlrhereby the dynamic forces Ia-tent in the Faith can unfold. crystalize and shape the lives and conduct of men. and serve as a medium for the interchange of thought and the coorqiination of activities among the (livers elements that constitute the Baha'i community." The next letter was written on October 7 and addressed to the believers thrcmghout the West on the subject of the remarkable spiritual victory represented by the interest of Queen Marie in the Cause. In this letter the Guarrlian referred to the realization of the regenerazing power, the supreme neca-ssity. the unfailing of the Message. Another letter addressed to the \Vcstern believers was written on October 29 and gave us the news of the satisfactory progress of the negotiar tions carried on in connection With the sacred habitation of Baha'u’llah at Bagdad. The communication addressed to the National Assembly on October brought us the first in»t_ima1:ion that the Guardian has turned his attention t0 the problem of international Baha’i administration. We may all take pride in the fact that a representative of this country, Mr. Mountfort Mills, was one of the three believers invited by to visit the Holy Land last fall in order that the Guardian might lay down the foundation of some sort of an international Bal1a’i secretariat at Haifa and also take counsel upon 'ghe measupes required to provide For the preliminary steps that will eventually lead to the proper establishment of the first international House of Justice. In this letter the Guardian stated that the progress of the contributions of the believcrs for the support of the Unified Plan of Action, up to June 30, 1926. had considerably fallen below what he canfidently expected it to achieve. The need of workers for the Tarbiat School in Teheran was brought to the attention of all The believers in a letter written by Shoghi Effendi on November 14. In the Guardian's letter addressed to the believers throughout the ‘West and dated February 13, 1927, we were informed about the highly important action taken by the 3-Iuhammedan ReIigious Tribunal of Egypt in handing rlown the written decision that the Court declared that the Baha’i Cause must be consklcred as a separate and independent religion. and not as a movement derived from and contained within the limits of the Faith of Islam. The Guardian's references to this decision make it clear that the event is to be regarded as a definite milestone in the development of the Baha’i Faith toward universal public recognition. The full implications of the decision can be understood by reference to the reports brought to the American believers by Mountfort an outline of which the in-coming National Assembly will no doubt publish in some suitable manner. At the date the present report was prepared. the last letter received from the Guardian this year was the communication dated February 20. 1927, and addressed to the members of the National Assembly: .-\1though pubIished in the News LETTER of April, it is well at this time to recapitulate uegpmnf) amp aql 31.1105 brought up in this communication. His reference to the 'World Unity Con

BAI-IA’I NEWS LETTER Eerences has made it cigar that both the direct and indirect teaching methods are endorsed, a fact which compels us all to feel greater responsibility in estimating which teaching method is better calculated to produce the desired results for the Cause under any given condition. The need for increased individual iniaziative was stressed by the Guardian in the same letter. His desire that we endeavor to found Baha'i institutions was also expressed. The need of spiritual contact with other movements, but only after careful study of their purposes and methods, was likewisfi brought to our attention. In this as in so many other recent letters from Shoghi Effendi, we were again reminded of the paramount importance of the Unified Plan. During the course of the year the Cause in America has lost a number of well-known and important Suuls. Among those whose passing we have lamenzed are: Dr. Albert Durant Wat5011 of Toronto; Mrs. Olof Pary of New York Milis, Minnesota; Mother Pomeroy of Montreal; Mrs. Nels Peterson of Fruitport, Michigan; Mrs. Erica Mary Tennis of Denver. Colorado; Miss Elizabeth Stewart of Philadelphia; Mrs. Charlotte Rosenhouer of Lakeland, Florida; Howard and Mary MacNutt of Miami, Florida. and Green Acre, Maine. In order to keep before the believers the memory of the love and achievements of those who have entered into the Abba Kingdom, Lhe National Assembly has planned the publication of a Baha"i Necrology, annually, or per» haps once every several years. This publication might well include 3. form Baha'i service suitable for reading at funerais. We have been informed by the Guardian through one of his secretaries, that the custom of holding a memorial service forty days after the date of death, is founded upon a Muhrammedan tradition and is an institution we are not to retain in the Baha'i world. Special circumstances, as we are informed, made it desirable to observe this Muharnmedan custom after the ascension of the Master. but we are requested not to consider this as a precedent for the Cause. On the other hand. the Guardian has made it clear that whenever possible, the Baha'i friends or relatives should conduct a Baha’i funeral service for the departed and not to feel satisfied with a nonBaha’i form of burial service unless circumstances make this imperative. The friends may rejoice at the fact that four new local Spiritual Assemblies have been elected this year: in Vancouver. B. C.; St. Augustine. Flcmida: Ithaca. New York. and Wil metre, Illinois. We understand that the Baha’is of Evanston, Illinois, are planning to elect their own local Spiritual Assembly on April 21st. In the appointment of Nationai Committees for the current year, the members of the National Assembly endeavored to give due'rega.rd to Lhe fact that a smaller number of committees all functioning with the utmost vigor and efficiency, represents a far more healthy condition and is productive of better results -than a larger number of committees some of which find it cliflicult to meet frequently enough to evolve a plan or develop the spirit of action. The number of Nationai Ba.ha.'i Committees has consequently been smaller this year than previously. That much constructive action has been achieved, however, was revealed by the series of reports published in the special number of the dated April. 192?, and by those reports which could not be prepared soon enough for publication and are therefore to be presented to the delegates at this Convention. It seems clear that national committees fall into two classes: one, representing committees whose service coincides with such permanent Baha'i il1::titutions as the Mashriqu’I-Adhkar, teaching, publishing, and the Baha'i Magazine, Star of the West; the other ciass consisting of committees appointed for 2. specific purpose and whose continuing existence would scrve no object after its purpose is achieved. Recalling the Gué.rdian's expressed desire that the establishment of Baha'i institutions is one of the larger responsibilities of Baha'i administration. we would cxpress the hope that the incoming .\‘ational Assembly may find it possible to make a careful survey of all existing Baha'i activities and find ways and means of securing some thorough knowledge of the capacities of believers in all parts of the country, so that in the appointment of future national committees the principle of cumulative efficiency may be borne in mind. other standard than that of true capaeity and initiative need of course be observed in the appointment of committees. and in the case of those concerned with the permanent activities every effort should be made to draw out Into expression every latent qualification and capacity in the Cause. The work of the National this year has for the most part centered around three special’ problems. The first of these in pdint of time consisted in the effort to find the most suitable lega! form for the incorporation of the administrative work of the Cause in this country. The special dif encountered in this search have been clearly set forth in the report of the Legal Committee. A great debt of gratitude is dug the megnbers of this commictee and especially to Alfred E. Lunt, for the really tremendous volume of research carried on during the year and for the quality of the final result. The completion of this legal step has removed a heavy burden of responsibility from the National Assembly, the future members of which will undoubtedly find the marteriai side of their work clarified to a considerable degree. As explained in the report of the Legal Committee. the material assets of the Cause in the U. S. and Canada. are now held by a body of three Trustees to -be known as Trustees of the National Spiritual Assembly. Those appointed -to this body at the meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly held in March, 1927. were Roy C. ‘-Vilhelm, Allen B. MCDaniel and Carl Their is to hold title to ail the Baha'i property in America. including the lanrl purchased for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Wilmer-te, the properties given to the Cause by the Green Acre Fellowship, the assets of the Publishing Committee and of the Baha'i Magazine. Star of the West, and also such funds as are held for £118 purpose of construtting the '.\Iashriqu'1-Adhka-r and any additional funds or property beueathed or otherwise given to the ause. The current assets of the Iqarious divisions of the National Fund will continue to be administered by the Treasurer of the National Assembly. The existence of this body of Trustees now makes it possible for believers desiring to leave bequests to includg a codicil in their wilds which will be acceptable to their e:<ecut0rs. The working of this new legal form has not yet developed to the point where a detailed summary can be published for the information of the believers, but the constitution and by-laws adopted by the National Spil-itua'i Assembly and the indenture of trust controlling the function of the three Trustees will soon be published and distributed in pamphlet form. This document will have the further advantage of clarifying the entire working of the system of Baha'i administration, including the relation of the local Assemblies to the Nationa-l Assembly, .the function of delegates, etc. The of this important step should be to increase our collective efiiciency and. at the same time. free our thoughts for the spiritual phases of Baha’i service. The second problem deserving special mention here has been the effective administration of the affairs of Green

BAHA’I NEWS LETTER Acre- There is no doubt but what the believers generally have been inclined E0 take the activities of Green Acre for granted, and we have all given too little thought either to the financial or spiritual responsi-bilitics involved in this consecrated community founded by Miss Sarah Farmer in 1894 in the full consciousness of the New Day. It has been no light task to attain either an understanding of what Green Acre required in order to vitalize its work and make it begin to yield fruit in Baha'i or to assume responsibiliry for the maintenance and improvement of its many-sided material A separate report has been placed before the friends by the Green Acre Executive Committee, but for the purposes of record it should be repeated here that the members of the Green Acre Fellowship at their annual meeting held August 10, 1925, unanirnousiy adopted a. resolution effect of which was to bring -their work under rhe supervision, control and responsible direction of the National Spirituai Assembly, by making any changes in the by-laws or charter of the Fellowship necessary to consummate this policy, including any necessary transfers of title or odzer interest-s whether oi real or personal estate, that may be lawfully made. This resolution was confirmed at the annual meeting of the Green Acre Fellowship held on August 9, 1926, and at this meeting the members of the Fellowship thoroughly understand that as as the National Baha'i incorporation had been The actuai transfer of title to Green Acre would be made. To all intents and purposes therefore. the valuable land and buiidjngs of Green .-Xcre, and above all its unique tradition of spiritual service, are, at the present time, as much a part of the Baha’i body as the Temple land at Wilmette or the books published ing Committee. Shoghi in fact, has expressed to the American believers his hope that Green Acre would be the focal center of the humanitarian, devotional and other activities of the Cause in this country pending the completion of the In-Iashrik'l-Adhkar. The development of Green Acre both spiritually and materially will for some years to come represent one of the most important responsibilities and also privileges of the American believers. The third major problem confronted by the National Assernbly this year consisted in the development of methods and policies capable of conveying the spirit and geachings of the Cause to the surrounding public. The result of our experience this year, and also {ht expressed conviction of the Guar dian. has been to indicate the need of applying our teaching resources along two methods. One method has taken {Orin and substance in the activity of the World Unity Conferences, the other method was expressed in the recent appoinunent of a new national teaching committee authorized to report recommendations for the establishing of a public Baha’i platform. with the cooperation of the local Assemblies, in the various cities of the U. S. and Canada. The number of powerful and impressive public Bahafi meetings held iri Amerida isustiil all 100 few. As the work of this committee develops and gathers momentum, the result should be a constant and uninterrupted series of meetings making use of all well-qualified teachers under more favorable conditions than hitherto. The cooperation of the national and local Baha.’i bodies, when concentrated upon this teaching field, should and in fact must evcntuate in public expressions of the Baha'i Faith so forceful and so ccmvincing as to capture the hearts and minds of that large portion of the general public at present not at all satisfied with their inheri-ted religion or their -personal inner lives. The 'World Unity Conferences have a well established activity capable of accomplishing great results in their field. Eventually, of course, all teaching efforts will be merged into one universal Baha'i servICG. The importance of the special funds known Lillian Kappes Memorial and the Fund of the Tarbiaat School has been appreciated to a far larger rlegree than has been the case for many years. It shouid be a matter of regret to us all that through unavoidable circumstances the American friends have allowed this nuble cooperation with the Baha'is of Persia to suffer neg-iect. EV»: trust that both funds can receive sufficient support in future to enable the friends in Persia to maintain the full number of Junerican scho1a.rs11ips and also to construct the larger schooi so much require. The friends will be interested to know that -some months ago the Baha’i School in Hamadan wrote stating that they would like an American believer to go as principal and to teach English. This request has been brought to the attention of some of the American friends particularly weil-qualified and also interested in Persia, and at the present time recommenda-tion is in the hands of Shoghi Eifencti. ‘We hope that it will be possible to send a principal during the next few months. The services 50 actively carried on during the last few years by Mrs. Victoria Bcdikian under the name Of I‘-TIC World Fellowship have this year, by instruction from Shoghi been related to the national and local Assemblies. Mrs. Bedikian at present is concentrating her extensive international correspondence upon the subject of the Mashriqu’I-Adhl-car and has reccntly published two bulletins devoted to the Temple. The Guardian has made it clear that the Gardens estab~ lished by Mrs. Bedikian for children should always be ad:-ministered by heIievers and all branches of the work established by the World Fellowship should be properly correlatui, through conmzittees, to our Baha'i administration. Several Gardens have reported concerning their activities to the National Assémbly and it is hoped that this helpful and admirable‘ conception may develop into a series of Children’s groups wherein the Baha’i ideals of education and spirituality may be applied to the coming generation. Some of the friends may have noticed a recent newspaper report stating the last session of Congress in Washington seemed unwilling to devote the income of the indemnity fund paid to this country by the Persian Government following :12: murder of Vice-Consul Major Imbrie in Teheran. to the purposes of educating Persian students in this country as planned and pledged by Mr. Hughes, former Secretary of State. The National Assembly carefully considered this sztuation and during March wrote a letter to Sbnator Borah, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, urging that Mr. Hughes’ original plan -be carried out for the sake of its beneficial effeots upon the relations of East and West. We also expressed our hope that America could carry out this humanitarian intention in order to establish a new spirit of justice and fellowship between -the U. S. and Persia, and we informed him of the close spiritual reiations between the Bah.-{is of this country and Persia. It is probable that nothing can be done by the Senate or Congress until next a1ftumn or winter. but meanwhile. the Baha’is of the U. S. and Canada have gone on record in behalf of the Hughes’ Plan. rimong the instances of individual initiative shown by American believers this year several interesting examples should be cited: a member of the Geneva, New York, Assembly took advantage of the opportunity offered by an article in the Atlantic Monthly Magazine claiming that the age of prophets had passed, -to write a letter to the editor stating that _threc Beings

BAI-IA’I NEWS LETTER of the prophetic character and ence had appeared in this age. the result of numerous inquiries asking who these three prophets were, the author, Mrs. Doris McKay, art the editor's request, wrote a second letter in which the Baha'i Revelation was explained and this letter has been published in the April number of the At[antic There is no need here of making special references to the unique services rendered by Miss Martha Root in carrying the Message to Queen Marie of Roumania. the Guardian having expressed his great gratification at this service in Several letters published during the year. The friends should be happy and proud at knowing that Miss Iuiiet Thompson has recently painted a portrait of Mrs. Coolidge and gave Mrs. Coolidge information about the Cause. W‘: understand that Shoghi Effendi has inforlncd all the Eastern believers of this anispicious evem. Vt-'hile these examples by no means exhaust the achievements rendered by individual believers this year, they may be taken as indications of how individual initiarive, when allied with understanding of and loyalty to the Cause, is confirmed, and such instances should inspire us all to nobler intention and more ardent One of the recently appointed naLional committees is engaged in work of such fundamental importance that its plans should be mentioned somewhat in detail. We refer to the committee on inter-racial ami-ty which is endeavoring to carry out that program nf spiritual reconciliation which rlu'1-Baha' so emphatically declared to he essentiai to the well-being‘. perhaps even to -the safety of the American people. In requesting Mr. Louis Gregory to serve as executive secretary of this committee. the National Assembly considered that this true servant of would surely find in this field a task worthy of his ideals and attainments. The friends are requested to give parrricular attention to the plans of the committee an inner-racial amity, in order that as soon as possible racial amity meetings may be held in cities throughout the country During Dectmberjl number of believers voluntarily offered to meet the expenses of a Publicity Bureau in order that the activities of the Cause might be more extensively and ofiicially made known to the general public. The Bureau has been functioning for a period of three months. during which time they have received clippings of their publicity to the extent of about newspaper columns. The subjtcts presented so far have been the Year Book. the World Unity Conferences and the Green Acre Institute of ‘World Unity, in addition to which special articles have been prepared and issued by the Bureau. L1: would be well for the Assemblies to give this subject very careful attention in order that we my all learn how to cooperate with these new facilities for publicity. Meanwhile, we should feel distinct gratitude to -those whose generosity has made this important service possible. The Plan of Unified Action, representing as it does the only possible solution of the problem of maintaining the material of the Cause upon the simples, most direct and efiicient basis, falls particularly within the province of the' National Treasurer, whose report will inform the friends concerning the operafiori of the Plan in detail. The Plan of Unified Action, however, is by no means exclusively financial in character. because its success depends upon factors of understanding, loyalty and se1f-sacririce. in the spiritual realm. The nf one and £1 half years during which the budget of the National Fund has been on trial has resulted in producing a How of inccn-nc '0 meet the current expenses of Baha'i administra-tion, but insufficient to yield an overflow for the permanent Tempie Fund. Perhaps the present Convention can accomplish nothing more important than the careful reconsideration of this Plan. with all its implications as pointed out by the Guardian of the Cause. and its revitaiizing by a profounder spirit of consecrated effort to be carried -to all the Assemhlies and groups by the delegates and friends gathered in Montreal. Two distinguished Persian believers. Mirza Maqami and Mirza Benan, came to the United States this year in connecrion with personal business affairs but with the intention of visiting iocal Assemblies as far west as California. Their arrival was preceded by therablegrarn from Shoghi mention-ed above. Thié intention unfortunately could not be carried out and our fellow-believers were compelled to depart without having made the Baha'i contacts they had anticipated and _even without having found it possible to meet with the members of the National Assembly. Those who had the privilege of making their acquaintance realize what a loss it has meant ‘to the beIievers generally not to receive these notable guests in the local meetings. Their long experience in the Cause. their radian’: spirit of Baha'i love, and their ardent. heroic zeal for service. were quali-ties capable of inspiring new Iife in mhe hearts of the friends. It is with the greatest joy that we announce to this Convention the gift of Persian objects valued at approximately ten thOusand dollars. donaxed by our devoted. brother Mirza. Maqami Ito the Temple Fund. What an example of that unity in raised far above limitations of race, nafionality or religion! How gloriously shines this act of generous sacrifice against the darkness which has descended elsewhere between Orient and Occident! How future generations of Ba.ha’is will acclaim this service to the first Mashriqu’I-Adhkar of the West! What effort we ourselves should make, to add more and more to that sacred Fund! The following communications have been sent‘by the National Assembly this year to local Assemblies and groups; on July 28 a letter was issued to local Spiritual Ass:-rnblies expressing the need of a closer bond of understanding and cooperation between the local and national bodies; on July 31 a letter was sent to Assemblies andugroups enclosing a copy -of the publicity prepared on the subject of Persian martyrdoms; on -September 15 a letter was issued to all tho; delegates of the 1926 Con_vcntion enclosing a proxy for the megting of the Baha’i Temple Unity; in October a revised directory of Baha'i secretaries in the United Sitatu and Canada was issued to all Assembly a.ddresses on our records; on October 21 a letter was written on the subject of the visit of Queen Marie of Roumania suggesting that in cities visited by her the believers show their appreciation of her services rto the Cause by making her a gift of flowers; on November IO :1 special letter was written to a number of well-known teachers pointing out the need of an increased by those in a position to from égssembly to Ass-ernhly; in November also a. printed list of Oriental terms showing the Baha'i accents as up by Shoghi Was published and issued to Assernbly list; on December 22 the Nationa1..Treasurer sent a general --letter to all delegates of the 1926 Convention and also 110 all local secretaries and treasurers on the Subject of the National Fund; on January 4th we sent to all Assemblies and groups a blank form to beout with the number of local believers in each community in order that the Convention Roll might be accurately drawn up; on Ianuary II the National wrote a special letter to a number of individual believers asking; their cooperation in working for the success. of the Plan of

BAHA'I NEWS LETTER Unified Action; on February 1 we sent out copies of publicity on the subject of the Year Book, asking local Assemblies and groups to see that was printed in t-heir local papers; on February 18 the 1927 Convention Call was sent to all Assemblies entitled to cleiegarcs: on Ma.rch 28 we wrote all .-Xssembiies and groups regarding the local elections to be held un April 2151; this year, enclosing a blank form to be filled out with the names-of the members of the Spiritual Assembiiw eiected at that time. In this letter we also requested the incoming local secretaries to send the names and addresses of all believers in each community by Iune first so that the Baha’i Directory for 1927 can he issued earlier than was done last year. Other communications have been published in the pages of the Naws LETTER. increased in -size and improved in appearance during the year. Our hope is that in time the News Lrzr-rm: may assume more of the character and importance of a true Baha'i newspaper, until it can be issued at frequent intervals and convey to the believers not merely a digest of events taking place within the Cause, but also interpretations of important world events in the light of the Revelation of llah. Surely from the itself should be produced the first truly constructive and humanitarian newspaper of the world, sensitively reflecting all phases of the universal struggie for truth and boldly defending each and every expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of mankind. Today we are privileged to nurture tht tiny seed—-tomorrow, we can trust. capabie souls will arise whose efforts will show forth the fruits of :1 mighty tree! The meetings of the National Spiritual .-‘assembly since the last election have been as follows: the first meccing was held in San Francisco on May 3. 1926; the second meeting at Warcester. 3'Iass.. on June 12; the third meeting at West Englewood, New _Tersey. on June meeting at'Green Acre. Maine, on August 7; the fifth meeting in New York City an September 18; the sixth meeting at Buffalo. New York, on October 23; the seventh meeting at- 1'[ass., December 11: the eighth meeting at Washington, D. C., on Ianuargz 9, 1927: the ninth meeting at Chicago, Illinois. _Tanuar_v 22; the tenth meeting in New York. February 20:. The eleventh meeting has been called for New York on April 2. The present report has been prepared only up to March 30. 1927. in nrder IO go out with the Other reports in the April NEWS LETTER. supplementary report dealing with the activities oi the month of April will be prepared before the deiega-tes meet. To conclude: while it is essential that we all become thoroughly informed about the facts, events and conditions making up the current record of our collective service, and more and more capable of ha.ncl‘ling details and solving problems, the overwheiming circumstance in the life of the Cause day is the condition of the world. Gigantic antagonisms and distracting fears are being released from within the whole area of humanity. The environment in which the believers will soon find themselves makes supreme demands upon inward qualities_ of mic courage, direct spiritual vision, immoveable faith. May the delegates and friends hold just balance between the material and spiritual phases of the Cause at this Convention! NAT‘L SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY. ALLEN Chairman. HORACE HOLLEY, Secretary, REPORT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC TEACHING PROGRAM COMMITTEE At 2. regular meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly, held in New York City on Feb, 27, 1927, a committee consisting of Mrs. May Mrs. Elizabeth Greenleaf and Mr. McDaniel was appointed to prepare a progmm for a. National Bahai Public Teaching activity. This committee respectfully submits I:-he fO1l0wEng preiiminary report: The purpose of this activity is r e purpose or tms acnvu-y ss :0 establish a National Bahai Public Teaching platform- The activity should consist of public meetings and follow-up work to be conducted -by the National Teaching Committee in cooperation with local spiritual assemblies and groups. These meetings shall be held approximately once a month in different Bahai centers. It is suggested that each local spiritual assembly or group appoint a special committee to cooperate with the Na.tional Teaching Committee in the preparation and conduct of this nationai teaching program. The National traveling teachers and local teachers shall be utilized as far as practicable in the giving of addresses at the meetings and in the fol wnrk which should inciude public meetings, group meetings and personal conferences. public meetings may he held in public hal-ls, churches, the auditorium of educational and other institutions, and simiiar available places. Every effort will be made to make these meetings as attractive as possible from the physical pain: of view, and with addresses f mm the Bahai teachers and outside speakers who are interested in and favorablc to the Cause with a view to making each meeting a clear and forceful presentation of the message of Baha'u’llah. It -is suggested that simple leaflets, presenting the teachings and message of the Cause, be distributed at each public meeting together with notices calling attention to the follow-up mcetings. The group meetings can well be arranged for by special invitation. Every effort should hit made to have this follow-up work of a recurrent nature: so that interest may be sustained after the initial public meetings. Arrangements shall be made to coordinate these national Bahai public meetings with the World Unity Conferences. It is possible that this may be best done by having the Bahai meetings follow the ‘World Unity C011ferences at a. period of from two weeks to a month. The national Bahai public meetings should also be' coordinated with the meetings for racial acuity. It is suggested that this can be taken care of by having one of the Bahai public meetings given Over to the Subject of racial amity in certain centers. The Bahai magazine should contain regular reports of these national Bahai public meetings. Your committee believes that the establishment and vigorous prosecution of these national Bahai public meetings will develop into one of the major activities of the Cause and will gradualfy result in carrying’ out the wishes of our Guardian in the bringing of the message into the hearts and lives of the people of this country and Canada. --XLLEN ELIZABETH GREENLEAF PUBLISHING COMMITTEE REPORT The detail work of -the Bah:'a'i Publishing Committee -has been carried out during the past by Moore and her daughter, Miss Emilie Moore. The members of the Committee have served in an advisory capacity to consult on matters of gen I

A few weeks previous to the last Convention, the Publishing Committee, in cooperation with Brentands, published “The Divine Art of Living", compilation long populaif the friends, but oniy accessible in back ~.-olumes of the Star of the West. The Committee is now taking up with Brentands the possibil-i-ty of bringing out a special edition of this book bound in paper covers and salable at lowcr CIJSI. During the spring of 1926 also. the National Assembly distributed among all the believers of the United States and Canada copies of a. compilation entitled “The Spiritual Opportunity of the Bahifis of the U. S. and Canada". This pamphlet reprinted the four Tablets addressed to all the American believers in the series of Tablets known as “The Divine Plan". All the copies Ieft over after this distribution have been turned over to the Publishing_Cummittee to be sold with the other literature. The new books and pamphlets and reprints of former books and pamphlets brought out during the current year are as follows: The unique series of No. 9 Cornpilat-ions. already issued in many languages, has been extended this year to include an edition in lzsperanto. Two hundred of these were donated to the annual Congress of the Esperanto Association of North America held in Philadelphia during July of 1926. An edition of No. 9 Compilation in the Russian language has been in the hands of capabie translators for some time. It is likely that this edition will he avaiiaizde during the spring of 1927'. A Spanish of the No. 9 Compilation was issued in September 1926. The small prayer book containing translations by Shoghi Effendi has been reprinted. The latest edition of Hidden Words has also been reprinted in an edition of 5,000 copies at a. cost enabling the Committee to reduce the price both on the paper and leather editions. In October the Committee brought out a. new compilation entitled “The Spirit of World Unity”. The reprints of the letter written by the Spiritual Assembly to the Shah of Persia have been turned ovcr to the Publishing Committee and added to the list of available literature. Early in the year, the Committee received from Shogh-i Effendi the rcvisecl text of the pamphlet by Dr. Esslemont entitled "What is the Baha'i Movement?" and at the Guardian’s request this has been brought out both in Engffsh and Hebrew. -The pamphlet by Dr. Esslemont entitled and His Message" has been reprinted in :1 large enough edition to enable the Committee to reduce the price from fifteen to five cents. The larger work of Dr. Essiemont entitled “Baha"u’llah and the New Era” has continued to be one of the Baha'i works most in demand. The Committee has brought out an edition of 500 copies bound in paper, all of which were auid within a few months. T he Committee is now arranging for another edition of 500 copies. A plate of the Greatest Name was presented to the Committee this year by Mr. Charles Mason Remey, and an cdition of the Greatest Name printed on heavy card board was published during the fall. Another gift to the Committee consisted of the stencils of the compilation on Education received from Mrs. Grace Ober. The Committee found it possible to mirneograph a small edi» tion 01' this important compilation. 11 is not likely that the stencils can be used again, but it is hoped that thr Committee later on can reprint zhi.compilat-ion in booklet form. The Committee calls the attention of friends to the fact that copies of the Bahéfi Year Book, Volume One. published by the Year Book Committee. are now handled by the Publishing Committee with the other literature. It has been found necessary -to raise the price of this work from One dollar to one twenty-five, but this increased price does not affect copies sold before the issuance of the revised catalog in April 192?. During the course of the year. the National received from the Guardian a statcrnem which can propuriy be referred to in this report. Shoghi Effencli has maclc it that all Eliaries and records of visits to Haifa. during the lifetime of the Master, if consisting of quotations taken down by the pilgrim and not corrected and approved by are (0 be edited in such a. way as to make it clear that these words of are not direct quotations but rather the understanding of the editor himself :15 the Master said. ThiS moves all works from the list of what We might call the authoritative lztterart-vvs. This instruction is to be applied all such works brought out in future. and ways and means must be found sooner or later to carry this out also in the case of works printed an prevxous years. About five years ago the: Publishing Committee distributed throughout all the established Assembiies on consignment a large amount of books and pamphlets. "believing that this mautefial would ‘be more useful in the various .issemhl_v libraries than in the ware house in Chicago. A great deal of these ‘books and pamphlets have been sold and paid for since that time. Realizipg, however, that many of the pamphlets and -booklets were tides which the great majority of the friends already owned, the Committee some ago decided to reduce the cost of alt the pamphlets originaily published many years ago and at présent not in perfeot condition. This decision will enable the local Assemblies t0 liquidate all long outstanding accounts. the result of which would be to enable the Comrnittee to undertake the necessary financing of several much needed works. There are certain books out of print which should pa circulation at the earliest possible moment. Among these are: Volume One and Volume Three of the Tablets of r|u'l-Baha. and Proofs by Abul 13:121. The Committee again calls to the attention oi the friends the fact that a fourth volume of Tablets, containing these important Tablets written by the Master to Assemblies and individuals after the year 1915, is of supreme importance and it is hoped that some way can be found -to edit the text and add this to the literature of the Cause. Other new works which the Committee plans to undertake in the near future is a. second series of extracts from the letters of -the Guardian. and a revised book of Prayers. At the time this report is being prepared. the Committee is at work upon a revised catalog of all the literature in print at the present time. and this is expected before the 1927 Convention. Row C. ‘-VILHELM Wmnusr Srzcrnmn Scnornocasn I-Ionacz HOLLEY STAR OF THE WEST Editors’ Report Complying with the request oi the National Spirituai Assembly fur a report from the Star of the West Committee. we are submitting herewith. for a.d\'ance publication in Tm: NI-:ws LETTER. :1 very brief summary of a. report to be presented in full at the Annual Bahia": Convention to be held this year in Montreal. From all the instructions we have received from our Guardian, Shoghi and which we have tried sincercly and conscienriousiy to follow as a basis for action. the friends will understand that those who serve on the STAR do not control its policy. but that we have been striving to edit the

BAHA’I NEWS LETTER _...______—_________________________________“______ magazine according to the explicit inreceived, and under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly’. We have from time to time sought our Guardian's advice, and than keeping his instructions ever before our sight, we have endeavored to make the_ STAR conform thereto. One of the points brought out, for instance, was this: that while the Bahzifi Magazine is to be so edited as to have a. universal appeal, yet the essential teachings of the Cause are to be fearlessly proclaimed. Thus we have tried to make the magazine broad and universal in scopesomewhat of a “travelling teacher", suitable for non ‘as well as interesting to the The plan to have the eclitoriais deal with current events, was changed after a. few months, and the editorial pages have been devoted to the exposition. in some form, of the history and teachings of the Cause, always proclaimed in such a way as to appeal to those interested or becoming attracted to the Cause. The Ljonwilatinns from the I-Eoiy Utterances have appeared from time to time in conformity with our instructions. It is not an easy matter to always secure the type of material which is required, for instance historical -acwhich must -be “fresh and authentic”, but we are expecting material soon from Persia and elsewhere which will bear the mark of authenticity’. Innumerable articles come to us from time to time which are for the most part well written. readable and intercsring—for the Bah:i'is--but too intimate in scope to fulfill the requirements of a universal Baha'1'i Magazine. One of the functiens of an Editorial Committee is to search out and bring '10 the magazine new contributors who have a message of value. This endeavor we have constantly made, and we have been thus able to add some new writers to the list of regular contributors, all of whom enrich the content material of the STAR bringing new viewpoints, new visions of life. of human experience, and of the -Cause. to our readers. One such person who had never contributed before has written 21- really brilliant article which will appear in a near number of the STAR. We therefore earnestly request that all who feel that they have something to say, should make an endeavor to express themselves_in literary and '-submit it to the Star of the 'Wcst. Cover Design: It has been considered desirable to make a change in the cover design of the Star. Several designs have been submitted. none of which have been chosen. The latest idea presented, that of having the design of the Mashriqu'I-Adhkar over which the title shall be printed, has seemed the most acceptable, and we are waiting the completion of that design for our consideration. The question also arose of further fihitnging the title, and after being deepprayerfuily considered. it was decided to continue with the same title as now. We are deeply grateful to all the friends fer the assistance and encouragement which they have given us from time to time. We h0pe they reaiize how vital a part they have contributed, for without their noteworthy services. the Star of the West could not have developed, even in some small degree, toward the idea! it is eventually to attain. ST.-ulwoon Cons REPORT OF LEGAL COMMITTEE The work of the Legal Committee during the past year has been largely directed to the problem of incorporaof the work. T_his probIem, however, owing to the unique rcq_uirements of the Baha'i administranon idea has to be one of the most difficult legal questions thus far encountered by your Committee and we uhink also by the National Spiritual Assembly. The large spiritual and administrative prerogafivcs assigned to the National’ Spiritual .-Kssembly in each country in the teachings of the Bahéfi founders, as outlined in cietaii by Shoghi Effendi. the Guardian of the tause. wgezher with the necessity of reconciling this essential requiremen: with the limitations imposed by law in the different states in which Bahifi property is now held may be held. has required a most intensive study of each one of several possible methods oi procedure. At the time the last report of your Committee to the San Francisco Conventiun practically this same question was still undecided and your Committee were waiting for legal opinions Illinois and other States in which Bahéfi property interests were payamount. which would clearly indicate the probable attitude £116 Courts of these several States might take in view of certain contingencies. As you know, the original plan was to obtain 3. congressional statute giving special authority with respect to incorporation but for practical as well as ideal reasons this proved to be an unwise plan to press at this time. It became necessary, therefore, to study with more care the existing possibilities of incorporation contained in the statutes of the several States and in the precedents already established by other religious bodies organized on a national scale. Practically the entire time since the 1351; report has been taken up with these analyses, as well as confércnces and consultations with the National Spiritual Assembly, and by the necessary legal research and comparisons which had to *be made between the different methods of procedure. We believe that certainty rather than haste is desirabie in handling so important an issue as -the first incorporation of the activities in the western worid. It has been found that no one method is free from more or less serious objection in putting into effect the dcsired and essential standards of the work in a corporate sense. The statutes provided by nearly every State. including the District of Colum-‘ bia. each contain cxpress limitations upon any religious body incorporated thereunder, in respect to the amount of land which can be held that body or the amount of invested property or funds which can be held under gift or devise or from other sources. These limitations pi property -holdings have grown out of an old English statute known as the Mortmain which was aimed at the Church through fear at that time that the Church might come the dominant property holder in the community. The reasons for this fear have in modern times largely vanished but the statutes remain. The is that no one of thwe religious statutes can be said to‘ afford a safe channel for incorporation of our work. For example. the best statute of this character. we think. is I0 be found in the District of Columbia, but owing to rhe fact that most of the Bahifi propany is and for some time wiil continixe to be in Iliinois. it is certain that the Illinois Courts would apply the limitation of their own statute to any corporation formed in an outside state {as, for instance, in the District of Columbia) coming to Illinois for the administration of Illinois property. For similar reasons, your Committee have felt that the suggested possibility of incorporating under some one of the so-called Non-profit Incorporation statutes, either of Illinois, New York or any other available state, could not be recommended for the reason that various court decisions appear to hold that incorporation under a non-profit statute of a religious work of the kind contemplated by us, would be interpreted by the courts as

1.3 BAHA'I NEWS LETTER —__________a___________________________‘_____ bringing us under the limitations of the religious statutes previously referred to. It has, for instance, been held by the courts of several jurisdictions that a religious hody exercising spiritual and ecclesiastical control largeiy through a central body or group (such as the National Spiritual Assembly} could not be said to enjoy all the privileges in respect to its property holdings ordinarily conferred by the Non-profit Corporation statutes but would rather be subject to the limitations set forth in the purely religions statutes of the particular state where its property was situated. The religious statute of Illinois limits the property holdings to 20 acres, and for certain purposes to 10 acres. which area would not permit the full construction of the Mashriqu'l-.-Rdhkar with all its accessory buildings as contemplated in the Baha'i plan. The Non-profit Corporation statute has been held to apply. without these limitations. to bodies such as missionary societies. the Y. M. C. .-K. and other groups which do not inherently exercise ecclesiastical control over their membership. But these bodies stand in a different position in this respect than does the Baha'i Movement. Other possibilities, suck the extension of the name and authority of the present Iilinois corporation, BAHAI TEMPLE UNITY. to the national work, have been considered. The only other form of incorporation or association available which your Colnmittee has been able to disucwer as possessing favorable elements is the so-called Voluntary or Common Law Trust procedure. Under this. the National Spiritual Assembly would organize as a Common Law Trust for the of the United States and Canada. and through this central form of association would carry on all the internal and spiritual affairs entrusted to it under the Baplan. with suitable by-laws and working rules of procedure which would include and establish the relationship of each local assembly to it. the rights of local spiritual assemblies and the general groups electing them, with the procedure of eieetion of delegates. the carrying on of the Annual Convention or Meeting of the Bah:i’is of the United States and Canada through such delegates. and the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, all as provided in the genesis of administration. Associated with this procedure. the title to all property, whether in the form of reai estate or as the principal of invested funds belonging to the Cause. would be ‘by individual trustees who un der their deed of trust would expressly hold for the benefit of the National Spiritual Assembly and be bound by the fundamental requirements and conrlitions of the spiritual standards of the Movement in all respects. Their successors would be named or at least approved by the National Spiritual Assembly from time to timeIt is felt that this form of procedure would relieve the National Spiritual Assembly of some of the purely material and practical duties which have up to this date consumed so much of its time, and at the same time would provide an essentially unified administration of both the internal and external phases of the work. W'hetl1er or not this t1.lITlS out to be true. the future Wiil. of course. determine. Your Committee in recommending this form of procedure for the national work was in no wise influenced by the possible ttfect of this plan upon the National Spiritual Assembly in :0 separating the internal and external phases of the work. but the srricrljc legal considerations whirrh appear m govern the aituatinn, am! the greater artractiveness of the Voluntary plan when compared with :u-ailable methods of incorporation. This iorrn of incorporation or sociation has now been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly. having been duly recommcnded by the Legal Committee, and the necessary '10Curr1cnts and papers are in process preparation for final action and cording. Furthermore. this I1'IEIl'10rl Hf procedure has been agreed to as prac:ica=ble and as legally acceptable in the States where p-roperry is or may be heid. by our acting directly or associated with the Legal Committee. all of whom have careful consideration :0 this phase of the problem. Respectfully gubmizted. For the Légal Committee ALFRED E. Lcxr Ali-Kuli Khan Louis Gregor}; Alfred E. Lunt REPORT OF THE NATIONAL INTER-RACIAL AMITY COMMITTEE In conformity with the request fur‘ :1 report of the activities of the Xational Committee on Inter-racial Amit)", this brief survey of the work 1'15 21 newly organized acrtivitjv is presented with regrets for the limitations of the past and hopes for the future. Your committee is orgunizeal and at work. In view of the complexity and difficulty of the race problem in America and what its effects may be upon this Nation and all other parts of the world, we appreciate the gravity of the zask assigned us and the constant need of Divine Assistance to bring our feeble to victory. The first work of this committee was to compose and address a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly and to all the Spiritual Assemblies of the United States ancl Canada. stressing the want of inter-racial arnity, the need of holding amity conventions wherever practical and other ways as conceived by this committee of how the racial culties might be met and overcome with the Holy Utterances and Revealed W'ords as a light and guide. Up to the time of this report a few of the centers have made reply, all of which have indicated approval of the plans and hearty concurrence as far as possibie. The assem*b.lies thus reporting are Philadelphia. Toronto. Yonkers. Geneva. Urhana and Boston. The named reports plans under way for an Amity Convention this spring and seeks advice and assistance, which are being‘ given. A majority of the members of the National Inter-racial Amity Committee are now in Washington and are working in cmmcctian with the local Spirit~ ual Plans are now well under way for an inter-racial amity convencinn to be held here on April 8, 9 and I0. Notable speakers from the Baha'i world and outside have accepted invitations. a Congregational Church and the Play-House have been engaged fur the threr: sessions and as the time draws nigh the nutlook is most propitious throiigh Divine Favor. The committee also considers its respmtsibilizy inr an amiiy cum-en-tion at Green Acre in July. LOUIS G. Gazcumr. Executive SecretaryMrs. .-K. S. Parsons. Chairrnan Mrs. Louise D. Boyle Mrs. Coralie F. Cook Mrs. Mariam Haney I..0cke Dr. Zia M. Bagdad-1' Louis G. Gregory LIBRARY COMMITTEE REPORT The National Ba.ha'i Library Committee reports the welfare of their work and the increasing number of refluests re-r:eiverl from librarians of Public Libraries throughout this country as well as snme foreign for books upon the Baha'i to he placed in their Libraries. the present time we have $7 Public Libraries upon our mailing list. Each of these libraries have at least several of our books and some have as

BAHAII NEWS LETTER I man]: as twelve and more, some even twenty volume-s—sent to them by us during the present and past years of our work--these requests for books are constantly heing received. But these requests for books follow and are dependent upon the work of the friends in interesting librarians in our literarure. Since the inauguration of this library work. the commutes has carried on a sustamecl effort to mtcrcst librarians through a series of letters and circulars sent out at intervals. One aspect of this work was the circulariza:ion of each of the 7,500 public libraries of the English speaking world (of rhe United States and Canada. Great Britain and her colonies including the Cowlmonwealths of Australia and New Zealand). A copy of “The Universal Consciousness of the Baha'i Movement" {bound in parper backs) with two catalogue cards for the same and a circular letter was sent to each of the librarians oi the above mentioned Z500 libraries and the result was most encouraging. The means - for this particular circularization were provided for outside of the regular appljopriation made for the Committee's annual expenses by the Nationai SpirEzual Assembly, and in c-rdcr to minimize the expenditurc of postage and printing, one of the members of this Committee who was at that time travcling in Europe, carried on this work from Italy, on account of the depreciaLed value of the currency, it was accomplished at a much lower cost than could have been possible in this counzrv. This Committee wishes to make acknowledgment of 250 copies of the Bahafi Year Book given by the National Spiritual Assemhly, which will soon be placed in Public Libraries. and for the help of many members of the ‘Washington Assembly who -have labored untiringly in sending out the thO1153.I1d5 of books and circulars in connection with this work dam: in Vxfashington, as well as to mention the name of Mrs. H. Ernogen Hoagg of Florence, who helped in many ways with their work done two years ago in Iraiy. The Ba.ha'is in all parts are asked to interest the librarians ef their local Public Libraries in having our books on their shelves—asking librarians to apply to the Library Committee for books. Books are sent only to those Libraries from which come: 0'. request for the same. These are sent gratis. ELIZABETH G. HOPPER. Secretary. CHARLES Mason REMEY, Chairman. Address P. O. Box 1319, D. C. ARCHIVES COMMITTEE REPORT The National Baha'i Archives Committee reports that the friends of the Lhpse at home and in many ioreign lands are cooperating with them in their work, sending from time to valuable records which are being arranged and preserved winh care fOr future generations. The present printed literature of The Holy Cause has only been made possible through the care ‘and service of the many friends who have treasured tmbiets and teachings in manuform—which manuscripts were the foundation for laner books and pamphlets. Today all are busy with the present work of the Cause but we are also thinking of those who are to come after us. for the only way that we can pass um and transmit to them that which we are receiving is through the >pirit and the letter of present work and service. To perpetuate the letter uf this wear]-: and service the care and ;.\reserv:1tion of documents in manuform is the Euuntlation upon which rests all the printed history of the Cause. The National Baha'i Archives Committee requests that all original Tablets and other original BaJ:1a.'i documents for preservation be sent to the Custodian of the Archives, R. 'Windust. 660 est Van Buren Street. Chicago, Illinois. It is requested that twelve copies of all printed or duplicated Baha‘i announcements. programmes of meetings, pamphlets, leaflets, booklets. articles, circular letters. et cetera. be sent to Charles Mason Remcy, P. O. Box 1319, W'ashingt0n, D. C., to be placed in a series of files of Ba.ha'i records. one of which flies is deposited with the National Baha'i Archives deposited in Chicago, the others eventually to go to certain of the larger assemblies in the United States and Canada. thus preserving for posterity the present development of the history of the Cause. Please pass this word along to the friends in other places at home and abroad. Materiai from all countries and in all languages is solicited. GERTRUDE Burrcxznm, Secretary, ALBERT R. Wmnusr, Custodian. CHARLES Mason Chairman. REPORT OF REVIEWING COMMITTEE Only two manuscripts have been submitted for review this year: “Lessons on Moral Conduct." transiated from the Persian by Miss Marzieh Khan. "Religions. Present, Past and Futurc," by "A Methodist Layman." Both manuscripts were approved by the committee. CAROLINE. NELSON, LOUISE WRIGHT, BISHOP Baowu. YEAR BOOK COMMITTE REP URT ' Year Book, Volume 1, was edited and published by a committee appointed during the year 1925-1926. The printed work, now in the hands of the friends, requires no comment or explanation on the part of the committee. When, however, Shoghi EfEendi requested the American National Spiritual Assembly to undertake this work. he gave the believers of the U. S. and Canada the privilege and responsibility of undertaking one of the first international Bahéfi activities and we should ail appreciate this fact. At present no other medium exi-sts capable of reflecting the purpose and progress of the Cause from yearto year in all lands. We believe that it would be of interest to state briefly how Volume One was distributed. - One hundred ~:-Ties were sent to the Guardian at his request. Two hundregi fifty copies were donated to the Library Committee and -by them sent to public libraries throughout the country. Sevemy-five copies were sent to the literary editors of ieading papers. Sixty-si_x copies were sent to a carefuliy selected list of executive secretaries and other officials in Government Departments, national religious organizations, and various other organizations and movcmen-ts which in the opinion of the Committee should have this book on hand for reference in their or libraries. Copies were also sent to every_Assembly and group in the U. S. and Canada and to all foreign National Asseinblies. Having completed this plan of placing copies of the hook in the hands of believers throughout the world and also =bn‘nging it to the attention of imporltant individuals -and organizations. the Year Bok Committee completed its service and was Realizing that interesting‘ graphs add greatly to the significance and value of an annual work of this character. we believe it desirable to request other national committees as we11_a.s Assemblies and groups not to overlook the importance of securing r:-hntorrran-hs of a local or general Bacharacter and sending cooies of them to the Year Book Committee.

In conclusion, we would like to phasize the fact that the entire manuscript was sent to Shoghi for his approx-al__'bef0re publication and we were privileged to receive from the Guardian the new translations which appear in Volume One as well as the section ccintaining references t0 the Cause in current literature. ALBERT Wrnnusr ' CHARLES Mason R1-may NI-ZLLIE S. FRENCH Mmzmu HammHonacn Honuzv REPORT OF GREEN ACRE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE This committee was appointed by the National Assembly to plan and carry out a program of Green Acre activities for the current year, including suggestions for the physical facilitics and equipment of Green Acre. as weil as classes and meetings. In submitting this report the mittec desires ta point out the near! 01' a comprehensive statement covering history and development of Green Acre since its establishment by Sarah Farmer i-n 1894. We feel very strongly’ that the complete assimilation of the spiritual and material ideals of Green Acre into the Baha'1" Cause cannot become ‘complete until the friends generally-are thoroughly: acquainted with the principal facts in the development of Green Acre, especially the direct relation between I §rerru Acre and as expressed in His Tablets to Miss Farmer. His Tablets and to frienrla uf Green Acre. and His utterances wiiilu visiting Green 1912. The National .-kssembly has already requested some of the friends identified with the development of’ Green Acre to prepare such a report and we hope that circumstances will permit in the near future the publication and distribution of a pamphlet devoted to Green .-Kcre resembling the remarka-blc report on the Ma.shr"iqu’1-Adhkan prepared by the Temple Committee 'two years ago. The helievers aware of Shoghi Effendi's several significant references to Green Acre. the most recent of which was a cablegram replying to a cabled message sent him by a committee nf the Annual Meeting of the Green .-kcre Fellowship held in August, 1926. In this cablegram he expressed the hope that Green Acre would emphasize the universality of the Cause. In this report we shall confine ourselves to a brief summary of what has been planned and carried out since the 1a:=t__(_:_onvention in regard to the various aspects of the Green Acre work. In passing we would merely mention the fact that the Green Acre FelEowship at its annual meeting in August, I925, unanimously voted to place tjreen Acre under the supervision of the National Spiritual Aissembly, an which was confirmed by vote' of the annual meeting of the Fellowship in 1926. In accepting this action the National Spiritual Assembly assumed responsibility for all obligations of lireen .-Kare in addition to formally approving this remarkably significant contribution to the genera] resources of the Baha'i Faith in North America. Rcferenue to the budget of the Na.tionai Fund printed in the plan of Unified Action shows that no provision was made to meet either the outobligations or the current expenses of Green Acre from the Nariunal Fund, the National at the time the: budget was drawn up having no financial statement making 5: possible to estimate how much Green Acre would require. The needs of Green Acre have consequently been met by special donations most generuusly made by a. number of friends. The income Green has also bccn from dues of Fellowship members and more especially frmn profits of Green Acre Iim conrlucted with such elficiency and under conditions of very great sacrifice: by Mrs. Emma C. Bliss. The Nationil Assembly felt in assuming the obligutiuns of Green Acre by reason of the fact that one of the he_lievurs made a .-special pledge of $3.509 ‘We wish that there were nppurtunit}: in this report to point out what a remarkable opportunity L}-reen Acre represents U) the .\merican believers in maintaininlg 2. community reflecting the Baha'i principles and teachings in all their applications to the spiritual and material problems of human life. Green Acre must in time become the first concrete evidence to the general public that the Baha'i Teachings make possible a ncw and higher_ degree of <:ivi1izati0n. Green Acre itscif already farilities for the organization of many Baha'i fr1stituti0ns—a school for training Baha'i teachers: for the inculcation of the various general arts and sciences in the light of the Baha'i Revelation; schools for training in the useful arts and crafts; public congresses and special meetings rm important subjects reflecting the Baha'i principles; the hospitality of influential men and women already Emhued with some aspect of the New Day; the gradual organization of housing and living facilities capable of giving Green Acre visitors the benefits of all the economies resulting from con to the principles of man soiidarity; the establishment of facilities for the instruction of youth in the principles of spiritual ethics and ideals; the suitable and elfective interrelation of helpful recreation with the mental and spiritual development of inriividuai-s and groups—in brief the development of a. well established community all the necessary means and of drawing forth the precious qualitiés of enthusiasm and exaited 'purpo'se"imd receiving in turn the results of true loyalty from munity means in this troubled and” changing age. The .~caso11 of 19.’6 was to :1 large extent experimental both in method and During those months. however, the National was to pay the nutstanding indebtedness of Green Acre with the exception oi the amount represented by the bonds issued some years ago. The season of [926 also brought to all Green Acre worl-:ers .1 clearer vision of the prnblern.-= and opportunities involved. The Baha'i classes conducted by Mr. Mr. Vail and Mr. Gregory aromezl the keenest interest and were deser1rin_g of the highest praise. Orrly those who came to Green .-Xcre during the season of 1926 can appreciate the c0ntr'ilrutions made to Green Acre by Mrs. Schopflocher. who donated the beautiful Arts and Crafts Studio and the new stone wall. by Mrs. Elizabeth Creexllcaf and Mr. George Spendlove at the Gift Shop, Mrs- Bliss and Mrs. Hartford at the Inn. Mrs. Powell and Miss Hendry at Fellowship House. the Spiritual Assembly of Eliot. Mrs. Louise Boyle. Mr. Stanwood Cobb and Miss Agness on the Program Cnmmittee. and Prof. Shook who carried rm the Little Theatre Turning now to prog'ram.and plans for the coming season, the printed program issued by the Committee in April will acquaint all the believers and friends of Green Acre with the varied activities preparer! for their enjoyment this year. VVe are particularly pleased with the fact that the Esperanto Association of North America will hold its annual Congress at Green Altft Inn during July. W3: hope that as time goes on Green Acre will similarly offer its unusual hospitality to other organizations and movements of a humanitarian and constructive nature. The physical improvements intended to accommodate a. larger number of guests and make possible a more economical scale of living were mentioned in the Nnws Lanna of March, 1927. In conclusion, we exprpss the con'.-ictinn that the notable gift to Green

BAHA’I NEWS LETTER 15 Acre represented by the Institute of World Unity can well signalize the beginning of that era when Green Acre shall be publicly recognized as "a focal center of humanitarian and devotional activity." We fed certain that all the Baha’i Assemblies will take every possible step ‘toward cooperating in the success Of this Baha'i Similar centers will no doubt in time be established in other -parts of the country upder Ba.ha’i auspices. N 0 one can now foresee how much such communities might mean to the believers individually and collectiveiy during the period of transition and reconstruc‘don which humanity is destined to pass through. Au-KULI KHAN. Fzonsncn: Mon-rcm. HORACE HOLLEY. REPORT OF TEMPLE COMMITTEE In as much as the purpose of the Plan of Unified Action is to gather the funds necessary to erect the first story of the Mashricful-Adhl-zar. the Temple Committee feel that the national treasurer's report is a better indication of the status of this project than any statement that could be made -by this committee. ‘We would call attention to the fact that thus far the response to the call of this plan has been only to maintain the necessary activities of the National Spiritual Assembly, so that practically nothing has been placed in the building fund. The conditions Of the foundation structure and grounds remain as they were a year ago, except that the completion of the caretaker's house and the removal of several unsightly shacks have very decidedly helped the general appearance of the Mr. Edward Struven has taken the position of caretaker for the grounds and foundation structure, and at present is engaged in grading and planting trees and shrubs which carry out the scheme designed by Mr. Hilbert Dahl. This will be a further great improvement in the appearance of the Temple grounds. The committee have thus far found no way to carry out the project of ing the areas around the fbundation structure. It has been thought necessary to require the removal of the very valuable black top soil, and also to make a survey of the -plot to ascertain the area and depth of this fill. requirements -which have prevented us from finding a contractor willing to dump. as we_had expected a year ago. The cornmittee recommends that we pay worms OF SHOGHI EFFENDI on THE SUBJECT or- NATIONAL BAHA’I conVENTIONS "Hitherto the National Convention has been primarily called together for the consideration of the various circumstances attending the election of the National Spiritual Assembly. I feel, however, that in view of the expansion and the growing importance of the administrative sphere of the Cause. the general sentiments and tendencies prevailing among the friends. and the signs of increasing inter-dependence among the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world, the assembled accredited representatives of the American believers should exercise not only the vital and responsible right of electing the National Spiritual Assembly, but should also fulfil the t'unctions'of an enlightened, consultative and cooperative body that will enrich the experience, enhance the prestige, support the authority, and assist the-deliberations of the National Spirirual Assembly." "If we but turn our gaze to the high qualifications of the members of BaAssemblies. as enumerated in ‘Abdul-Baha's Tablets, we are filled with feelings of unworthiness and dismay, and would feel truly disheartened but for the comforting {thought that if we rise to play nobly our part every deficiency in our lives will be more than compensated by the all-conquen ing spirit of His grace and power. Hence it is incumbent upon the chosen delegates to consider without the least trace of passion and prejudice. and Errespectivé of any mfiterial consideration, the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion. of a well-trained mind. of recog "It is my firm conviction that it is the hounden duty in the interest of the Cause we all love and serve. of the members of the incoming N. 5. 3.. once eiectecl by the delegates at‘ the Convention lame, to seek and have the utmost regard, mdmdualhr and coliectively, for rhdadvicc, the considered opinion and the true sentiment of the assembled delegates." ASSEMBLY LETTERS Grateful acknowledgtlment is Imdc for circular letters received from the following Assemblies: Recht, Persia, (in Esperanto}; Hamadan, Persia; Portland, Oregon; Kenosha, Wisconsin; Constantfinople, Turkey; Paris, France; San Francisco, California; Manchester, England. Special mention_ is mgde of the admirable printed Nsws Lam of the German National Spiritual Assembly at No. 3 Alexanclerstrasse, Stuttgart.12 issues of this publication have far been issued. Each number contains a carefully selected resume: of |-anzli g.;at.hered from many countries, German Baln’i- nnws printed in English and a. signed by Alice Schwarz, Frau Schwarz recently delivered ‘the first public lecture on the Cause in Munich, which produced profound interest and~ brought her a cordial inviinfinn to at a large congress to he held during the sunmmr of 192?. '7‘ At Mr- and Mrs. .3 Romer are residerrts in Dacia, Mr. Ru-mm-’s professional duties 11: called him after several months called him after several months pleasant association with fine of London, England. Mr. a.nd’Mrs Romer report that Miss Roofs? visit to Berlin was attended the great number of public meeting; A telegram from Vancouver brings the good news that Mr. Schopflocher: will arrive in Montreal on Saturday, April 2. after a trip of six months which has carried him around the‘ world. Letters from Assemblies and individual believers in various con tries, including Australia. have mea while furnishfid glowing reports of services this member of the Natio Assembly has accomplished for :11 T Cause on land and sea. Not the Ieas - of his effective deeds has been to 5! journey promis-es to be one of thi features at the Convention.

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