The Key West citizen., 1954-09-04

LEWISTON, Idaho--A young
couple arrived in this city Of
1900 early this year with one
purpose: to change q statistic.
They knew on one here, had no
contract for work, did not know
where they were to set up house
keeping. In order to live in Lew
iston, they had changed their
whole way of life, has sold their
share Of q profitable family furn-
iture business In Milwaukee, .
fashionable home, q car, and had
abandoned prominent position
In Milwaukee's social life.
Bob and Shirley Miss decided to
make this Northern Idaho COM
munity their home because 1t was
q "gold city"--nowhere in 1t or
near 1t was a single adherent OF
the new religion Baha'i.
Mss has a simple explanation
Of the couples decision to lave
familiar surroundings and start
again from scratch:
'sWe've found q good way Of
life and we want to share it with
others"
Meet Opposition
Their Job Of sharing has not
been easy. Since their arrival in
February, there has been opposi-
ton from some local ministers and
lay people to the use Of the YWCA
building for explanatory discus
sions of Baha'i, which-generally
speaking--is q way Of life that its
disciples maintain embraces all
religions, all peoples and all
countries, seeking to unite them in
brotherhood.
But after six months, Mss feels
sure progress Is being made.
1--WE feel as If we've been here
all our lives" he says. I'VE like
Il and we're getting along well"
He reports the attendance at
Baha'i meetings has increased
steadily, though not rapidly, and
maintains that more and more of
the simply curious are becoming
genuinely interested in Baha'i.
The Misses stayed at a motel
after they first arrived, while
Bob looked for a job and a home.
He shortly found both-he's work
ing now at St. Joseph's Hospital
and they have moved into a small
house. The couple has one child,
John, 3.
Way OF Life
What is the way Of lie that up
roots young intellectuals like S5-
year-old Miss and his wife, q
beautiful former model, and sends
them as missionaries within their
own country?
Baha1 finds expression in words
you might think unfamiliar to the
ranch house living rooms of sub
urban society such a. the Misses
knew in Milwaukee. The words
are taken not only from the advice
Of Jesus Christ to his Apostles to
spread the gospel. II is also in
the injunction Of Krishma, eighth
avatar Of Vishnu. who in the Hindu
epic Bhagavadgita says, There is
q task Of holiness 10 do unlike
worldbinding. which bindeth not
the faithful soul: such earthly duty
do. free from desire, and thou
shalt perform thy heavenly pur-
pose"
Baha'is recognize all the major
religious figures Of old. They say
each prophet came to the world to
interpret the word Of God accord
ing to the worlds ability to under
stand it at the time Of the prophets
appearance.
Claim Latest Prophet
Thus, they say, the latest in the
line of divinely inspired messeng-
ers that includes Moses and
Zoroaster is the father Of their
universal faith a Persian prince
ling named Bah'u'llah, who died
In 1892 after % years Of teaching.
The major principles Of his pro
gram are these:
Men must seek for truth in spite
Of custom, prejudice, and tradi-
tion.
Men and women must haye equal
opportunities, rights and privil-
Ieges.
The nations must choose an
international language 60 be used
along with their mother tongues.
AL children must receive 4
basic education.
Men must make q systematic
effort to wipe out all those pre-
4adices which divide foples.
Afaa must recognize that rel;s;or