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The third Glad-Tidings
concerneth the study of divers languages. This decree hath formerly streamed
forth from the Pen of the Most High: It behoveth the sovereigns of the
world - may God assist them - or the ministers of the earth to take counsel
together and to adopt one of the existing languages or a new one to be
taught to children in schools throughout the world, and likewise one script.
Thus the whole earth will come to be regarded as one country. Well is
it with him who hearkeneth unto His Call and observeth that whereunto
he is bidden by God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
(Bahá'u'lláh:
Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, Page: 22)
Terra cotta pebbles used in the paving of the terraces. 
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During the celebrations, some Bahá'ís who were in South Africa in the 1953-1963 era recounted memories, and outlined some of the difficulties they overcame in the early years of the community.
One such speaker was Ephens Senne, whose wife, Dorothy, in January 1955, became the first South African woman to accept the Faith. Describing the oppressive atmosphere of apartheid, Mr. Senne said he and his wife were scared initially that the white people had plans to kill them. That fear vanished as they got to know the Bahá'ís, but they had to be very careful about meeting them because of their apprehensions about official surveillance.
When the couple visited European Bahá'ís, they had to pretend that they came to clean the houses, carrying mops and brooms to avoid suspicion, said Mr. Senne, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly.
Read the entire story.
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