To the Editor of the "Nonrit-Ciuna Dany News Sm—Pethops some of your readers would be happy. to hear of a uni-Yersal house of worship, the second of its kind in the world; ihe frst tone having been built at. Ishlkabad, Russia, This American-Duilt house. called temple of Light for a unleral religion and Is the frst to. be Dullt in the western hemisphere, Tt is located on the shore of Lake Mlehigan Wilmette, "Li, just north of Chicago. Built essentially by. the Believers, through their "voluntary: contributions and without any Seeumulated debt on the organization, this Temple. willie open. to all people regardless of race or ereed or folour and is dedicated to. the Oneness of God"and the Oneness of mankind.
Construction on this temple at Wiimetie was, begun. twenty" years ago and when completed in 1044 will entirely. paid. for; the essential purpose is to provide a community nesting place for all people seeking worship God. Since the Baha'l faith has no professional clergy, the Worshippers ili the temple will hear ho sermon and take part fu no ritual, Tm this house of worship. there will be only the reading of the creative Word, and a meditative silence the best preparation for 'a day clive service, that. service. being ecouinted another form of worship.
"This temple of Light was designed the Tate Louis Bourgeots and is nonagon. or "ninersided structure, embodying "architectuat elements which have "attracted widespread attention. This temple will eventually be'the centre of a group of auxiliary Dulldings dedicated to the service of mankindsymbolieal of some of the ways in which the Baha''s turn into channels "of. practical service the Inspiration they receive through their belief in the Buha'l Revelation, 'The watchword of the Baha'i faith fs the Unification, of the human' race, its Handard the most great peace, The number nine, which holds a most significant plage in. the archi fecture "of this building design, Is symbolic of the prediction of the [Baba revelation, which constitutes the "ninth Inthe Vine of existing religions; the Talest_and "fullest Velation. which mankind has. ever Known; into the design of the temp) was. woven, in symbolic form, the Great Baha'i teachings, of uriily of Feligion and of all mankind, 'The dome itself Ts remarkable in that it consists of two separate inde-Pendent steal "frames of atticed Elrders, thoroughly eross-braced. On the upper chords of the inner framework' is supported a specially de-Bignea slumintum. and glass dome, {his is also. nine-sided with ribs Hsing midway from the first sloroy fides, tapering inward and. meeting above the closed top like. hands This dome is decorated with lucent and opaque quartz tu ly cast scroll-work. The colour des from pure while the dome to light buff at the ba: svunigue and Uhrilling sight as nears conipletion, "The Baha'l teachings wore brought to this country for the first time tu 1893 and ware proclaimed si the parliament of religions at the World Fair. I was for that reason that that part of the Western hemisphere was chosen, Wilmette offering the most beautiful site on the: shores of lake Michigan, Eventually the beautitullylighted dome will be a beacon for the shi duel here fight nee time dele tore fe darigee Ao "hat four ette be fe AN hate, at Braet fie amend of ana car yee ie auleonng poet iui' cent pletion Dealt a yer tin acne it (hae i ole SERRA INT ea arse igngs"chvousl Ws "aaven dal wa gert
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.