World Religion Day - 1967

The Day was observed in foundation Hall of the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois with a public
meeting designed to appeal especially to people from Jewish and Christian backgrounds. Mrs. Clarice Weil of Clayton, Missouri, a Bahia'i of Jewish background, explained how the moral laws of Moses were similar to the spiritual teachings of Baha'u'llah Who was the "Lord of Hosts" and "King of Glory" referred to in the Jewish writings. The 614 Mosaic social laws, she said, were abrogated, reinforced or replaced with new ones to solve today's more complex social problems. Mr. David Kellum, a Baha'i and former Christian from Chicago reviewed the history of Christianity to show
that it is not able to cope with today's needs for a peaceful world community. He showed how Baha'u'llah's teachings provide for today's living which demands the recognition of the oneness of mankind under one universal Faith. The gathering concluded with refreshments and a social hour when m any of the 130 who attended could ask questions and meet the speakers.

The Boston and Cambridge Communities coordinated activities for the commemoration which included an ecumenical program of prayers for world peace with thirteen participants (twelve of whom were non-Baha'is). The Boston and Cambridge observance also included a half hour television presentation of the Baha'i Faith on the program: "Our Believing World," on WBZ-TV on the same day.

The friends of St. Paul, Minnesota, observed this event over a two-day period which included a news
conference (the first for St. Paul) on January 14, a panel program, and a public meeting on January 15, with Dr. David S. Ruhe participating in all three. Three television stations responded to the news conference by including the interview on their respective evening broadcasts. The panel program was co-sponsored with the North Central Voters League and was held in their headquarters in the heart of the Negro community in St. Paul.

Alameda, Hayward and Oakland, California communities sponsored a very successful observance. The program consisted of an Inter-Faith panel that answered the question, "Has Modern Man Outgrown Religion?" 200 were in attendance - the largest single attendance reported for this year's commemoration. Publicity included coverage by the newspapers, nineteen radio stations, television spot announcements and a fifteen-minute personal interview on television.