"Your efforts are essential steps on the path to world peace"

Chancellor congratulates the
Bahá’í Community of Switzerland on its Centenary

At the invitation of the governing council (National Spiritual Assembly) of the Bahá’ís of Switzerland, government officials, members of parliament, and representatives of non-governmental and religious organisations were invited to a reception on 23 September to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Swiss Bahá’í Community. The special guest speaker was the Chancellor of Switzerland, Mrs. Annemarie Huber-Hotz.

The event was held at the National Bahá’í Centre in the capital city of Bern. The Centre had been lovingly prepared for the occasion: members of two local Bahá’í "study and service circles" had spontaneously offered to clean the Centre; professional gardener and member of the community, Mr. Peter Hotz, spruced up the garden; numerous other friends from the area helped move furniture, arrange and decorate the meeting room and assist in the organisation. Everything was perfect when the guests began to arrive.

In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Diane Ala’i, chairperson of the National Spiritual Assembly, underscored the fact that "this religion arrived in our country barely a half-century after its original stirrings in a provincial city of Persia", adding "and Bahá'u'lláh’s revelation that he had come to bring a new divine civilization occurred just 40 years before Joseph and Edith de Bons [the first Swiss Bahá’ís] decided to adopt this message as the one that was to guide their lives".

She called to mind the commitment of service of the Bahá’ís of Switzerland to their fellow-citizens, as well as to their brothers and sisters of the human race throughout the world. "Indeed," she said, "in additon to such well-known names as Auguste Forel and Tobey Mark, many Bahá' ís of Switzerland have, inconspicuously, but with dignity contributed to fostering inter-cultural understanding, social harmony and cohesion, and to the spiritual and material enrichment of the world".

Because of her key coordinating role within the Swiss government, the Chancellor is often referred to as the "eighth member" of the 7-member Federal Council (Executive). As such, Mrs. Huber-Hotz is the highest-ranking public official ever to visit the National Bahá’í Centre. She spoke warmly of her contact with the Bahá’í teachings through her brother [our devoted gardener Peter Hotz] and his family who are Bahá’ís. She also praised the community for its principle of the equality of women and men and its commitment to interreligious dialogue. Mrs. Huber-Hotz has, over the years, profiled herself as a strong advocate of interreligious dialogue.

"On the occasion of your Jubilee celebration," she said, "I congratulate you particularly for the ideas you stand for and to which you are committed: the unity of humankind, world peace, tolerance towards people of other cultural, linguistic, ethnic and religious backgrounds."

"[. . .] I am here because I share your ideals and consider your efforts for their implementation as essential steps on the the path towards for a more peaceful world […] Our world needs people with a vision and a compass that are oriented beyond our own borders, and by borders I mean not only geographical, but ethnic, social and religious borders."

She went on to share her conviction that an essential requisite for a more peaceful world is "that we do not stop at passive tolerance of those who think or believe differently. Rather, tolerance and respect must lead to recognition and appreciation." Quoting the German poet Goethe from 200 years ago she said: "Tolerance should really be only a temporary attitude; it must lead to recognition. To tolerate is offensive. True benevolence is recognition and appreciation."

In concluding she said: "I know that you are committed to this ideal … and with optimism. In your vision The Future of Switzerland, I have read that the source for your optimism is the conviction that ‘All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization’. My wish for your Jubilee is that your vision may become reality that you may be permitted to harvest the fruits of your efforts."

The Chancellor gratefully accepted a copy of the latest volume of the Bahá’í World, remarking enthusiastically on the image of the terraces of the Shrine of Bab [in Haifa, Israel] and reminiscing on private visits to the Bahá’í World Centre when her brother was working as gardener there. Before leaving, she accepted to pose for a photograph with 8 members of the National Spiritual Assembly who were present.

The next day, Der Bund, a major daily newspaper of the capital city Bern, carried a 3/4 page article on the event and on the history of the Bahá’í Faith in Switzerland.

In addition to this reception for dignitaries, the Swiss Bahá’í community will be celebrating the Centenary event on 4-5 October in Interlaken, together with friends from many parts of the world, in particular from Italy. For, in addition to the Centenary celebration, it was exactly 50 years ago that the first regional council of the Bahá’ís of Italy and Switzerland was established, followed 9 years later by separate bodies in each of those countries. The choice of the mountain town of Interlaken for the up-coming event was motivated by its dearness to the heart of Shoghi Effendi, the spiritual Head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921 until his passing in 1957. He had cherished and nurtured the Swiss community throughout those important formative years and found in the nearby mountains rare moments of respite from his heavy load.

25 September 2003