Chapter 14
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14. The Early 1960s and Visits of
Hands of the Cause
Miss Alexander and Dr. Muhajir
In November 1960 there was a two-day All-Taiwan Summer School, the
fourth for Taiwan. As there were no visitors from abroad most of the classes
were taught by Chinese Bahá'ís which was a good experience for
them.
After the Summer School there was enough interest for Taipei to establish a
youth group.
Travel teacher Muhammad Labib visited in 1961, with his daughter Lily, and he
was successful in teaching as he was everywhere he went, causing the Local
Spiritual Assembly of Taipei to write to the National Spiritual Assembly of
North East Asia to send another such pioneer to Taipei. Mr. Labib, who was
originally a pioneer to Japan, visited Hong Kong as well as Taiwan, but he had
visa problems and could not stay for any length of time.
In 1961 Mr. Suleimani sent a list of Bahá'ís in the southern
area. There were thirteen adults in Tainan, which included three women, Mrs.
Tu, Mrs. Suleimani
The Tainan Bahá'ís and their friends celebrate
Naw-Rúz 1961. Especially satisfying was to see so many young people.
Mrs. Kao (Yang Su-su), newly declared, is holding the "Greatest
Name".
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and Mrs. Kao (Yang Su-su) whose husband was also a Bahá'í. Also
included were two youth, both young women. It seems that finally the teaching
was reaching women.
In 1962 Hand of the Cause Miss Alexander visited Taiwan for the third time. Of
that trip she wrote, "When we reached the Center in Tainan I could not get over
my delight at the lovely Center with flowers surrounding it. I was there for
eleven days, each day full. I came to know the Taiwanese people and truly loved
them. Now there are quite a number of Bahá'ís in Tainan, five in
one family (the Yang family) declared their faith at the same time. The last
evening I met the parents for whom I felt a great love. As they were in the
country under the Japanese they know the language so we could speak together.
They are not Bahá'ís but their children are.
Mr. Suleimani wrote that Miss Alexander's visit was a source of inspiration
to all the friends and it culminated in one declaration, Mr. Wu Pin-chen of
Pingtung,
This photo was taken on the occasion of the Anniversary of the Birth of
the Báb, October 20, 1962, at the Tainan Bahá'í
Center.
Mr. Suleimani is standing at the far right. Dr. David Earl is standing
in the center. Mrs. Ruthy Tu is sitting second from the left and Mrs. Suleimani
is sitting second from the right.
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thereby opening that area to the Faith. By 1966 there were enough
Bahá'ís in Pingtung to form an assembly of which Mr. Wu and his
wife were members.
Later that year one of the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Yang, a middle school
student, spoke at a picnic gathering for young people at the
Bahá'í Center in Tainan. About thirty people were present to hear
her speak of the history and principles of the Faith.
In April, 1962, there were one Assembly, three groups and six isolated
centers. The Local Assembly of Taipei could not be formed that year due to too
few members and so became a group.
With the arrival of American pioneers Dale and Barbara Enger in August 1962
activity increased in Taipei, where they settled.
Dr. Muhajir first came to Taiwan in February 1963. The next year, 1964, he
came twice and in 1966 twice. He continued to visit Taiwan, for how many times
it is difficult to determine. During his second trip he had meetings with the
friends
Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhajir (standing fifth from the left) during his
second visit to Taiwan, March 1964. This photo was taken at the
Bahá'í Center in Tainan.
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every day and evening. He visited Pingtung, Che Lu-chien and some of the
indigenous people. He spoke at a school in an aboriginal village in San Ti Man
district. He encouraged the Bahá'ís to go out into the
countryside and talk to the people. He was of the opinion that mass conversion
could be started in Taiwan. In his later visits he said that all emphasis must
be on the goals of the various Plans given by the House of Justice. At his
encouragement the community took steps forward in the areas of teaching,
contacting the aboriginal groups, in acquiring a Center for Taipei,
accomplishing the goals of the Nine Year Plan and the Plan given to Taiwan
after the election of its own National Assembly, and having teaching
conferences. Dr. Muhajir met with all of the friends and committees and
outlined practical plans for the advancement of the Faith, not only in Taiwan,
but in all areas he visited. His impact on the growth of the Faith in Asia can
hardly be assessed in this generation.
In April 1963 the Bahá'ís in Taiwan attempted an extensive
proclamation in connection with the 100th Anniversary of the Proclamation of
Bahá'u'lláh. From London, which was the site of the first World
Congress, press releases were sent which were translated into Chinese and were
given to all newspapers and radio stations, resulting in several newspapers
publishing the information and two radio stations broadcasting it. Mr.
Suleimani said it was the first time such a wide proclamation was attempted.
There was a well-attended Proclamation celebration at the Tainan
Bahá'í Center.
In Taipei, at the same time, there was a meeting which was reported to have
had "good coverage in the Chinese newspapers."
Two days after the meeting, on April 23, the Suleimanis and Mr. Chu left
Taiwan to attend the first World Congress in London. It appears that Mr. Chu
might have been the only native-born Chinese to attend the Congress, although
at least one Chinese-Singaporean and some Chinese-American
Bahá'ís also attended.
In November 1963 two Summer Schools were held, one in Taipei and one in
Tainan. The classes were conducted by the resident Bahá'ís.
One of the goals of the Ten Year Plan for India was to translate
Bahá'í literature into several Chinese languages. The National
Spiritual Assembly of India wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly of North
East Asia asking for assistance. That Assembly then contacted the Local
Spiritual Assembly of Tainan asking if they could find a way to translate any
of the languages. That Assembly found a professor in a Foreign Language
University who knew Mongolian (one of the languages specified), and he was able
to translate
The Bahá'í Message, writing it in Mongolian script,
so it was ready for photo offset printing. It happened to be ready in February
1963 at a time when Dr. Muhajir was in Taiwan. As he intended to go on to India
he suggested that he take it and deliver it in person to the Publishing Trust
of India.