Racial amity work and conferences
Need for Regularly Recurring Racial Amity Conferences[edit]
"These [racial problems, especially between Whites and Blacks, in southern California] have brought back to mind the warnings and advice of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi concerning the racial situation in the United States which is far from having been resolved. In this regard the House of Justice appreciates the attention you are attempting to give to this situation by your appointment each year of a Race Unity Committee; however, it has noticed that 'Abdu'l-Bahá's advice concerning the holding of Race Amity Conferences is not being systematically followed. You are asked, therefore, to give the most careful consideration to reviving the Race Amity Conferences as a regular feature among the activities of your national community. Los Angeles would, of course, qualify as a venue for any such conference."
- (On behalf of The Universal House of Justice, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, 1/14/87, quoted in Pupil of the Eye, pp. 178-179)
Race amity conferences are a vital and inseparable part of the teaching campaign without which no campaign can bear lasting results[edit]
“Concerning the racial amity conferences; the Guardian firmly believes that they constitute a vital & inseparable part of the teaching campaign now being carried on by the American believers. It is the duty of every loyal Bahá’í to do all that he possibly can to promote this phase of Bahá’í activity, without which no campaign of teaching can bear lasting results. ”
"At the bottom of the letter Shoghi Effendi penned a brief note:
"The teaching campaign, now in full swing in the United States and Canada, should, under no circumstances affect the progress, or detract from the importance & urgency of the racial amity work that challenges & confronts the believers in that continent. I hope & pray that in both fields you may be enabled to render magnificent services. I feel truly proud of your past achievements & cherish the brightest hopes for your future contributions to this noble & twofold task."
- (Shoghi Effendi and On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, to Louis Gregory, 11 Nov 1936, USNBC Archives (Gregory sent a copy of ltr to USBNC); in “To Move the World”, Morrison, p. 244, at https://bahai-library.com/writings/shoghieffendi/uncompiled_letters/1930s/1936-11-11%20Concerning%20the%20racial%20amity%20conferences.html )
Bahá'ís on both sides must show in deeds the result of principles[edit]
"It is especially gratifying to see the results of the Amity Conferences for a better spirit of fellow-ship and brotherliness among the coloured and the white. This is a field where the Bahá'ís on both sides must show in actual deeds and actions the result of the principles and teachings of the Cause. He hopes that you will, in this connection be able to render great services."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 5/23/27, Microfilm Collection of the Original Letters of Shoghi Effendi, National Bahá'í Archives, Wilmette, IL, Pupil of the Eye, p. 174)
Unity Conferences are very promising plan for teaching; preparation for, and work after, need great care to obtain results[edit]
"You mentioned the Unity Conferences that were held there some time ago. This is a new and very promising plan for teaching the Cause to broad-minded and progressive people. The friends should do their level best to make this a success and try to bring definitely in the Cause persons attracted to the teachings through those meetings. Shoghi Effendi has great hopes in this new system of teaching and earnestly prays for its success. One thing to bear in mind is that the preparation for these Conferences and the work after them are very important and need great care before any result can be obtained."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 12/15/26, Microfilm Collection of the Original Letters of Shoghi Effendi, National Bahá'í Archives, Wilmette, IL; Pupil of the Eye, p. 173)
