Teaching the Public and Attracting Ethnic Minorities:

Teaching the Public and Attracting Ethnic Minorities:

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The Summer Schools provide a splendid setting and environment to which the best element among the coloured race should be specially attracted. Through such association prejudice can be gradually eradicated, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ardent wish fully realized.

The Guardian finds it impossible to overestimate the importance and urgency of this sacred duty that confronts both the Local and the National Assemblies.

From a letter 28 July 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to
the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada

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The Guardian welcomes your suggestion to extend to various groups and clubs in Davison and the adjoining centres, whom you find to be well disposed and sympathetic towards the Faith, an invitation to attend certain special meetings at the Louhelen Summer School. He will pray that this plan you have conceived may result in further intensifying the campaign of teaching throughout[pg 38] those regions.

From a letter 27 January 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers

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He hopes your Committee will continue to endeavour in raising the standard, both intellectual and spiritual, of the school, and make it an attractive centre not only to the believers but especially to non-Bahá’ís. It is, indeed, the teaching value of the school which you should particularly emphasize. The courses, lectures and general activities conducted by the friends should be arranged in such a way as to attract the attention of the outside public to the Cause. The Summer School is a high occasion for teaching the Message. Through daily association with the believers, non-Bahá’ís will come to see the Cause functioning as an active and living community entirely dedicated to the service of what is best and highest in the world. The lectures will familiarize them with the principles underlying the New World Order, while their participation in the social life of the believers will enable them to see the way in which these very same principles are put into operation.

This is the aspect of the Summer School which the Guardian wishes your Committee to stress. He is confident that thereby the teaching work will receive a powerful impetus.

As regards the courses, he would advise you to continue laying emphasis on the history and teaching of Islám, and in particular on the Islámic origins of the Faith.

From a letter 14 October 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer

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He was delighted to hear of the great success your “Winter Institute for Bahá’í Education” met with. Such progressive activities, especially when carried on in co-operation with local people who are not Bahá’ís, do a great deal of good, and not only expand the knowledge of the believers themselves but bring the Faith before the public in an excellent light….

From a letter 9 February 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Phoenix, Arizona