Casa Grande Dispatch from Casa Grande, Arizona • Page 7

Casa Grande (Anz.i DISPATCH Fr.day. March 19. Open House Set in Casa Grande Beginning of Spring Marks C7 New Year for Baha'i Faith GOLDEN DOMED Shrine of Bab (Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith) graces slopes of Mt. Carmel at the international headquarters in Haifa, Israel. Nearby, the I'niversal House of Justice, international administrative Angels: God's Secret Agents body for the Baha'i Faith, conducts the affairs of the Baha'i world.

The national Baha'i center in the U.S. is located in Wilmette, A new year begins for members of the Baha'i Faith on Sunday March 21, the first day of spring and the beginning of the year 133 E. The letters mean Baha'i Era; the Baha'i calendar dates from the time of the religion's origin in 1844 in Iran. Since that date, the Baha'i Faith has been established in over 300 countries and territories. For the Baha'is, New Year's Day is a holy day.

Baha'is all over the world call it by its Persian name, Naw-Ruz, and it is one of the nine Baha'i holy days on which Baha'is suspend work. The Baha'is of Pinal County will hold open house at 2654 N. Ocotillo Lane in Colonia del Sol, north of Casa Grande to celebrate Naw-Ruz. "All should rejoice together," the sacred Baha'i Writings say of this festival which reflects the- essential joyousness of the Baha'i Faith. Founded by Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God, the Baha'i faith recognizes the oneness of.

God and of the creation of God. According to the Baha'i Teachings, the human family has been educated over the- ages by Manifestations of God such as Jesus Christ, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, Zoroaster, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah. Naw-Ruz significance has a special for the Baha'is because they feel that Baha'u'llah and His Herald, the Bab, ushered in a new age, a spiritual springtime in which man will reach maturity and establish a peaceful world Af Church Billy Graham's Book Breaks Sales Record Faith-Promise Conference Features Missionary Work Bj GEORGE W. CORNELL Al Religion Writer NEW YORK lAP) Sometimes religious books far outsell the widely touted, so-called "best sellers," but never show up on the lists because of practices in the trade. But a current religious number has hit such a peak that it has broken into nearly all the front-runner listings.

It's "Angels: God's Secret Agents," by evangelist Billy Graham, with 1,210,000 copies distributed since it came out last fall. "It's the fastest selling book ever liad, and to thrtest of our knowledge, that anybody's ever had," says Alex Liepa, an editor of Doubleday company. Nevertheless, it's one of the few religious books to push into the major "best-selling" lisis, even thougib such books often beat those listed in national sales and popularity among Of Women Episcopal Church Group Oppose Ordination NEW YORK (AP) A group of 13 influential Episcopalians, including several editors of independent publications and leaders of the Church's Anglo- Catholic or high-Church wing, have declared they "would never submit" to Church authorization of the ordination of women. They say in an "open letter" to the Church's bishops that if the Episcopal convention next fall approves ordination of women, "we would refuse to accept this action" and it would "shatter the unity of our branch of the Church, inevitable course of time." Signers included the Rev. Canon Albert duBois, president of the American Church Union; Dorothy A.

Faber, editor of The Christian Challenge; the Rev. Religious Instruction Declines WASHINGTON, D.C. AP) The number of Roman Catholic youngsters who are not getting "any formal religious instruction has more than doubled in the last decade, a new study finds. It says 6.6 million elementary and secondary school-age chil- 43.5 per cent of the total of 15 million are neither enrolled in Catholic schools nor in Church instruction classes. Carroll E.

Siracox, editor of the Living Church, and Perry Laukhuff, editor of the Certain Trumpet. Survey Indicates Controversy DAYTON, Ohio (AP) Responses to a. questionnaire in the United Methodist Church indicate "potential splits" over two issues. Sociologist-economist Robert Theobald, analyzing the 832 responses, says the two'issues Involve "tension between evangelism and social action" and "deep cynicism" locally about the functioning of denominational agencies. There is "deep concern about the balance between evangelism and social action," he says, adding that "stronR currents" favor more emphasis on evangelism.

Bible Camp Board To Meet in CG The Arizona Bible Camp Board will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Christ, 400 E. Third St. Interested persons may attend the meeting, Don C. Bunnell, evangelist said.

American readers, and though sales of religious books lately have climbed faster than other categories. Jennifer Byron, of Nashville, a Baptist Book Stores communications specialist who has made an extensive study of the situation, says: "The fact that books designed for a specific market may not get on a besit-seller list even though they sell as many copies as those that do gives the public a wrong picture of what books are really selling." One reason mentioned for the disparity is that compilers of the lists don't check with religious books stores, of which there are more than 3,500 in the country. Other factors also apparently figure in the problem, including a tendency not to consider religious books in the general nonfiction category. "To say tne best-seller lists are inaccurate is to put it mildly," says Li'jpa, citing various religious bocks that don't make the lists while selling far more than secular numbers which do. Peter Kladder of Zondervan a big publishing house in Grand Rapids, which recently opened new multimillion-dollar manufacturing and -warehousing facilities there, says: "I'm convinced that if there was a really gocd system of determining sales, a third of the books on foe best-seller lists would be "religious'." For example, more than 30 religious books in the last five years have had sales exceeding one million, outdoing most "best but without making the "best-seller" lists.

The superseller of them all. a paraphrase of Scripture called "The Living Bible" by Kenneth Taylor, hasi sold more than 18 million in that period, 3 million of them in a Doubleday edition only in general trade stores. but made few top-selling lists. Over-all, religious book sales have gone up 16.0 per since 1967. compared to an over-all book publishing gain Of less than 10 per cent, the Association of American Publishers reports The four-day Faith Promise Conference opened Thursday at the Christian Church, Center St.

and McMurray Blvd. The series of meetings features missionaries and their work both in this.country and abroad. The speaker at tonight's Evangelist Dubrui Will Speak Here Evangelist Ron Dubrui, nationally-known crusader, will be in Casa Grande Monday, March 22 and Friday, March 26. He will conduct special meetings at 7:30 p.m. on both dates at the Rebekah Hall, 12th St.

and Pinal Ave. Appearing with Dubrui will be radio and television personality Jack Canada. A converted night club binger, Canada started his career in the entertainment field at age 17. A Country Western singer, his style was reminiscent of Elvis Presley. He is presently a recording artist on NBC television.

His latest album is "Honey, His Name Is Dubrul, a native of Detroit, received his'education in Arizona. A talented musician, he was also a successful businessman for a number of Series of Meetings years. He has been a teacher at Pacific Northwest Bible College, Vancouver, British Columbia. He has held crusades across America and Canada. He has also been involved in several tent crusades, one of which was held on the Pima Indian Reservation, south of Chandler.

He is pastor of the Christian Fellowship Center in Phoenix. The purpose of the center is to minister to the whole body of Christ reaching those in every denomination and race. The evangelist also conducts crusades over a Phoenix radio station. He "prays the word of faith for healing and gives a word from God as the Lord leads while ministering live over the air." The meetings are open to the public. Mitchell to Speak At Church of Christ Stanley Mitchell will be the guest speaker at a special series of meetings at the Casa Grande Church of Christ.

400 E. Third St. In addition to the regular meetings Sunday, the meetings ill be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. A second year student -at Abilene (Tex.) Christian University, Mitchell is inajorins; in Bible- communications.

He is also involved in the discipleship program of the Hillcrest Church and plans work with the North West Church in Tyler, Tex. during the summer. The 19 year old youth has lived most of his life in Rhodesia, Africa where his parents are-missionaries. meeting beginning at 7:30 will be Frona Ruetten who will show slides and discuss the Toronto Christian Mission and her work last summer in the Iron Curtain countries. On Saturday Christian Education nighl; will be featured.

In addition to slide programs and preaching, music selections will be presented by a group from the Pacific Christian College smd the choir of the Christian Church. Home Missions Day will be observed on Sunday at the 10 a.m. and the 6 p.m. services. Vernon Hollett from the Navajo Christian Churches Mission will be the special guest all day.

He will present slides of the Navajo and various phases; of his work in Northeastern Arizona. A "Mexican Fiesta" was held Thursday to honor the missionaries in Mexico the Bowlin family and Lorene Martin. Mexican food was served at the potluck dinner. The Thursday program featured a report by Faye Bunten about her trip to Brazil, the Holmquist family and the mission work New Testament Published In Chinese NEW YORK A of the New Testament in modern Chinese has been published by the United Bible Societies, the first new version in that language in 56 years. It's called "Today's Chinese Version," making; the text available in contemporary Mandarin Chinese, using simple words and avoiding theologically technical terms.

The translation is based on the same "common speech" principles that were used in civilization. The seeds planted by the love and sacrifice of all the Divine Educators will blossom in this day, Baha'is believe. "That which the Lord hath as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of sill the world is the union of all its people in one universal Cause, one common Fai'Ji," wrote Baha'u'llah, Because of His Teachings, Baha'u'llah, Who was born to a wealthy family, was stripped of all His wealth, jailed, tortured, and exiled. His wife, children, and many of His followers suffered with Him. He died in exile in Palestine in 1892.

The world center of the Baha'i Faith is in Haifa, Israel, on Mount Carmel, across the bay from the Tomb of Baha'u'llah. Despite those persecutions, Baha'u'llah wrote many volumes in which are contained such principles as the equality of men and women, the harmony of science and religion, the need for the elimination of ail forms of prejudice. Baha'is are enjoined to pray daily, develop kindness and courtesy, and refrain from gossip because it destroys unity. The future, world order, Baha'u'llah wrote, will have a world court, 1 international auxiliary language, universal compulsory education, and a unifoi-m monetary system. By following these principles.

Baha is are guided to a new way of lift-. They use the principles when they consult together, for there is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith and all authority comes from elective, consultative bodies. The rhythm of Baha'i life is guided by a new calendar. Based on the solar year, the calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days each (361 days). The remaining days (four in ordinary and five in leap years; are Intercalary Days, dedicated to hospitality, gift-giving, and charitable activities.

Each of the 19 months is' for an attribute of God: Glory, Beauty, Perfection, Grace, Justice, and Mercy. Each month begins with a gathering called a Feast, which is a time for prayer, community consultation, and joyous fellowship. The calendar and these principles, upheld by faith in the singleness of God and in the authority of Baha'u'llah as God's Messenger for this age, knit Baha'is of every nation into a multi-racial, multi-lingual, graceful and cohesive family. GET THAT PROFESSIONAL TOUCH IN YOUR A New Pattern Making, Fitting Design Method Copy or Design Your Own NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY NEVER BOY ANOTHER PATTERN! IEARN HOW YOU CAN: 'Eliminate costly time-consuming alterations 'Draft patterns to your s.ze contour 'Complete a garment in 2 hours 'Get a good fit every -'ime "Attend only one class Lsom to fit before you learn It sew. 90-rVUNUTE LECTURE Beginning At 10A.M.

1:30 P.M. 7:30 P.M. THOMSIG Fashion Designer Styllist Custom Tailor, Fabric Specialist fc Pattern Ma'ker PRESENTS FOB THE FIRST TIMl EVEf! IN CASH GRANDE Thursday, Wiardi 25 FRANCISCO GRANDE MOTOR INN Casa Grande Room 5 Miles on HiWcy 84 Admission $4.00 504 less with this cd Drafting material: for sale at class. did lid jjj --The meetings are open to the producing the American Bible public, Don C. Bunnell, Society's widely popular "To- evangelist, said, day's English Version." Rancho Grande Baptist Church 2700 N.

TREKEIL RD. CASA GRANDE MARCH 21-28 7:30 Nightly Evangelist Music Director Dick Smith Beverly Fowler (ASA GSANPf; EVERYONE INVITED t.MW If it'. HI Mtf.l! COME TO THE LITTLE CHURCH WITH A BIG SPIRIT CUM IS FOWIER, PASTOR 1 i'ublir i.i Sunday, March 21 Arizona Public Service Auditorium 318 H. Marshall Casa Grande Transeendeiital Meditation Baptist Church 518 E. Second St.

The Church On The Grow invites you to REVIVAL at Sunday, March 21 thru Sunday, March 28 7:30 P.W, Every Right Messages by Rev. John R. Wardle Pastor First Baptist Church Of Palm City, Florida Special Singing Under the direction of Robert Slrader Free nursery for oil services Ample oH street parking LOCATED WILMETTE, ILLIMOiS The 21st of March the (beginning of 2 year lor Bahais all over lha world. This will be the near t33 B.E. (Bshai On this Holy Day, we the members of the Final county Bahat Group wish to share with the bslovisd Sod in this area the following message from the Reflations of Baha-u-llah: Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face and hear the Voice of the Promised One.

The Call of God hath been raised and the of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behovelh every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet ol his heart and to with on open and unbred mind on the of His Rovelalion the proofs of His and the tokens of His glory itiou lernembered Me' Tne grievous vet' hath shut out the of the earth irom His glory and hindered them froip hearkening His coil. God grant that tho light of unity nay envelop the -iole caith and that the seal the Kingdom is God may be stamped upon the brow of oil its peoples For information Phone 536-0211.