The New York Age from New York, New York • Page 11

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1957 i 1 v' "mm I'll pfngfl i ts. lillll While in prison he wrote numerous books, prophecies proclaiming the advent of universal Justice and peace. Today, there has arisen ft i THE FIRST BAHA'I HOUSE of Worship in the Western world, located in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago: Symbolizing the unity of God, his Prophets, and mankind, it was formally dedicated in 1953. Services consist only of acapella prayers, readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Koran, Baha'i Writings, and the Sacred Scriptures of other great religions. world wide religious community, representing all races and creeds.

in over 1,600 areas in the United Slates and throughout 240 countries and territories of the world, dedicated to the following principles: (1) The oneness of mankind, (2) Independent investigation of truth; (3) The foundation of all religion is one; (4) Religion must be the cause of unity; (5) Prejudice of all kind must be forgotten: (6) EqualHy between men and women; (7) Religion must be in accord with science and (8) Universal peace; "(9) Universal education; (10) Spirit ual solution of the economic problem and (11) A universal language, and the establishment of a world commonwealth with The Rev. Oberia D. Dempsey, assistant to the Kev. Adam Clayton Powell, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 W. 138th and director of the Religious Education and Youth Departments of the church, has a big job on his hands, but he is handling it in an efficient maimer, or, in a manner lhat denotes an objective.

FACE FUTURE PROBLEMS The young Mr. Dempsey, however, has several objectives. The principal one just now is to impress upon the minds of the youth of today that the problems of tomorrow will be their problems, and unless they fit themselves to cope with the situation, they, will be helpless. Youth must acquire a well rounded knowledge of what's before him, and to do this he must be taught some of the fundamentals of material life, such as political, economic and social structures, declares the director. Speaking, more about he i'O I UK REV.

O. D. DEMPSEY question, his philosophy is that there are two major points to begin with: (1) to make the youth of pur and community aware NEW YORK AGE DEFENDER II iiiyi.il .11.. ii.M.i.i .1 .11. ii inn I mi.

Ill III II i. uiw i ipiw mmm The Baha'i Religion Reflects A New Era By FRANK B. SAWYER (Special To The Age Defender) Forty five years ago in Harlem's Mount Morris Baptist Church, then located at 2050 Fifth the first Eastern religious "leader ever to visit the United States addressed a capacity audience in Persian while translators relayed his life long plan for the elimination of racial and religious prejudice from human thought. The speaker, known through out the world as Abdu'l Baha had come to America after his release from 40 years imprisonment in the Holy Land, to spread the principles of the Baha'i Faith, a religion founded by his father, Baha'u'llah, the rfost extraordinary spiritual figure produced by the 19th century. Baha'u'llah founded the Baha'i religion in Iran in 1863.

As his faith spread he was opposed by the government and the clergy and forced into exile to Baghdad, Constantinople and winally to Akra, Palestine, where he was kept prisoner until his death in 1892 MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK BAHA'I ASSEMBLY, chief New York City Baha'i administrative body, hear secretary Lauretta N. Moore "read excerpts from the Baha'i plan to eliminate racial and religious prejudice. (Left to right, standing) Paul Pearsall, Frank Sawyer, vice chairman; O. Z. Whitehead, chairman; William Dunlap; (left to right, seated) Vera Olsan.

recordihg secretary; Vincent Pleasant, treasurer; Lauretta N. Moore, secretary, and Samuel Newman. (Photokraft Photo) all nations as equals. The headquarters and library of the New York City Baha'is are at 111 W. 71st St.

Here, open programs are held on Sundays at 4:00 P.M. Other meetings and discussions, called "Firesides," are held informally in Baha'i homes throughout the city. Unlike most religions, the Baha'is have no mystic doctrines or rituals. There is no priesthood or professional clergy. No collections are permitted and only members may contribute funds.

Baha'is believe that God has revealed his word In each period of history through a chosen prophet or manifestation, as Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad and Bab, the founder of forerunner to Baha'u'llah. It is called progressive revelation. This belief enables Baha'is to work together for a united world in spite of religious backgrounds, stemming from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, and other faiths. Thus, in promoting their religious beliefs, the Baha'is seek to share with others their convic tion that co operation has be come the organic principle of human evolution and the high est form of personal morality and the most potent law of civi lization. of their responsibility; (2) to prove to youth that today's world problems will be their tomorrow's problems.

ADULT DELINQUENCY The Rev. Mr. Dempsey doesn't place too much stress on youth delinquency. He admits there Is more of it than there Should be, but he charges a large part of it to adult delinquency. This, he explains not only comes from homes nd parents but from our teachers, our institutions and our way of life.

"You. cannot pinpoint the cause of youth delinquency, since there are so many avenues and sources from which it develops." He feels, however, that the program set by Abyssinian Baptist and other churches for meeting the problem is moving in the right direction. WIFE IS MUSIC MINISTER A native of Muskogee, Rev. Dempsey is a graduate of Brooklyn College and took religious training at Shelton College. He is married and the father of three children.

His wife, Vivian, also a native of Oklahoma, is a product of Wiley College, Marshall" Texas. She Is minister of music at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Brooklyn Thirty two years old, before coming to Abyssinian Church, Rev. Dempsey served for seven years as director of youth activities at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Brooklyn. Prior to that Pews And Pulpits CHRISTENING AT MOTHER ZION CHURCH 1 The following children were christened at the morning services Sunday.

Feb. 10, at Mother AME Zion Church, 148 W. 137th St. Edward Anthony Richmond, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Henry Richmond of 165 W. 127th St. and Theresa Maxine and Charlene Joyce Hamilton, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hamilton of 60 E.

135th St. IRAN AMBASSADOR AT EPHESUS CHURCH His Excellency, Dr. D. Jalal Abdoh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Permanent Representative to the U.N. from the Republic of Iran, will be the guent speaker Sunday, Feb.

17, at 8:00 p.m., at Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church, 123rd Strand Lenox Ave. FLUSHING CHURCH FASHION REVUE The youth center of Macedonia A.M.E. Church, 136 87 38th he served as assistant minister to the Rev. Claude L. Franklin of Mt.

Lebanon Baptist Church, Brooklyn. Flushing, N. will give a fashion revue and tea on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 3:00 p.m. Entitled "A Pretty Girl Is Like A The show will be directed by Miss Addie Cagle.

The participants will include models from New York City, New Jersey and Long Ll'and. The affair will be for the benefit of the church's youth center. NEWSPAPER OFFICIAL TO SPEAK AT CONFERENCE Lynwood E. Smith, official representative of the New York Age Defender, will address the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Greater New York and Vicinity on Monday, Feb. 18, at 2.30 p.m.

His subject will be "Better Public Relations for the YOUTH SUNDAY" AT COMMUNITY HURCH It will be Youth Day, Sunday, Feb. 17, at Community Church, 40 E. 35th St. At 11 a.m. the entire service will be taken over by members of the Community Youth Group and the Young Adults Club.

Several of the young folks will preach on "This I AftORYiCIIANS Marion Daniels Sons, Inc. Funeral Directors 164 West 136th Street New York City AUdubon 6 2455 Before Ordination to the subriiaconate, Diaconate, or Priesthood, the candidate must take an oath before witnesses, to the effect he knows full well thr tions which ordination entails for hiin; and (2) he is compleely free in accepting my ordination. Knowledge and freedom are obviously required in the person accepting uUij 8 tremenOU3 responsibility. The same requirement holds for women about to pronounce public vows in religions community. Before the vows, the Bishop or his representative must searchingly interview each candidate alone regarding her understanding of the vows and her freedom in pronouncing them.

Church of St. Mark Evangelist 63 WhI 13 Stiwt K. N.V..