Chronology: Date 1900

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1900, descending — sort earliest first

date	event	tags	firsts
1900 7 Dec 190-	In New York, nine men were selected to govern the affairs of the Faith. Those serving were Arthur Dodge, Hooper Harris, William Hoar, Andrew Hutchinson, Howard MacNutt, Frank Osborne, Edwin Putnam, Charles Sprague and Orosco Woolson. Among the problems that they had to face was the effect of the disaffection of Kheiralla. [BFA2p36; Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p5] One of the men, William Hoar, had been present at the reading of the paper by Henry Jessop at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1892. Shortly after he began study of the Faith with Ibrahim Khayru'llah. Later Hoar moved to New York where he continued study with Anton Haddad. Haddad had learned of the Faith in Egypt from Haji 'Abdu'l-Karim-i-Tihrani. [WMSH59]	Board of Council; Spiritual Assemblies; LSA; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Arthur Dodge; Hooper Harris; William Hoar; Andrew Hutchinson; Howard MacNutt; Frank Osborne; Edwin Putnam; Charles Sprague; Orosco Woolson; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Anton Haddad; Hájí `Abdu'l-Karim-i-Tihrani; New York, USA; United States (USA)	first "Spiritual Assembly" meeting in America????
1900 26 Nov 190-	Agnes Baldwin Alexander wrote to `Abdu'l-Bahá declaring her belief in Bahá'u'lláh. [BFA2:159; SBR176; PH32] She had heard of the Bahá'í Faith from Charlotte Dixon while staying in a pension in Rome. She stayed in Rome for three months studying prophecies then travelled to Paris for further study with May Bolles for another three and one half months. [BFA2:159; SBR176] She left Paris in the Spring of 1901 for London, New England, Oakland, Ca and finally Honolulu. On returning to Hawaii in December 1901 she became the first Bahá'í to set foot in Hawaii. [BFA2:159–60; SBR177]	Agnes Alexander; May Maxwell (Bolles); Charlotte Dixon; Rome, Italy; Italy; Paris, France; France; Oakland, CA; California, USA; London, England; United Kingdom; Honolulu, HI; Hawaii, USA	First Bahá'í to set foot in Hawaii
1900 4 Nov 190-	The Persian teachers Mírzá Asadu'lláh-i-Isfahání (1826-1930) and Hájí Hasan-i-Khurásání, a merchant from Cairo, arrived in America. Their task was to consolidate the American community and to address the effects of Kheiralla's disaffection. [BFA2p35–43] 'Abdu'l-Bahá provided them with two translators, Mírzá Husayn Rúhí, a young Persian Bahá'í who had learned English in Egypt, and Mírzá Burzurg. They spent three weeks in New York then spent two days in Johnstown, NY then relocated to Chicago where he stayed for eighteen months. Mírzá Asadu'lláh did not accompany 'Abdu'l-Bahá to America, however, shortly after His return, Mírzá Asadu'lláh and his son insisted on going to the West and did so against 'Abdu'l-Bahá's wishes. Both he and his son were expelled from the Faith. [APD143; AY119; SoW Vol 5 # 17 19 Jan 1915 pg 263; 265] The four stayed in New York and then left for Chicago arriving on the 29th of November. Asadu'lláh stayed in Chicago until 12 May 1902, Khurásání, and Rúhí returned to Egypt in mid-July, 1901. [BFA2p38]	Hájí Hasan-i-Khurasani; Mírzá Asadullah-i-Isfahani; Mírzá Husayn Ruhi; Mírzá Burzurg; Covenant-breaking; Johnstown, NY; New York, USA; New York, USA; Chicago, IL; United States (USA)
1900 5 Aug 190-	Hájí `Abdu'l-Karím-i-Tihrání left the United States, his efforts to win Kheiralla back to the Faith having failed. [BFA176] Reports of his meetings in which he confronted Ibrahim Kheiralla over Kheiralla's renunciation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and defection to Muhammad-Alí were published under the title Reports of Proceedings of Meetings in New York City and Chicago, Illinois. [Collins7.2278]	Hájí `Abdu'l-Karim-i-Tihrani; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; New York, USA
1900 Apr 190-	Dr Yúnis Khán arrived in `Akká to act as translator for `Abdu'l-Bahá. He remained for nine years. [BW12:679-681]	Youness Afroukhteh (Yunis Afrukhtih); Translators; Akka, Israel
1900 26 Apr 190-	On the instructions of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Egyptian businessman Hájí `Abdu'l-Karím-i-Tihrání arrived in New York, the first Persian Bahá'í to visit North America. He had taught the Faith to Kheiralla in Egypt. His purpose was to try to bring Kheiralla back into the Faith and to explain the basic teachings of the Faith to the American believers. He was accompanied by Mirza Sinore Raffie, his translator. [BFA173–6; BFA2:17–29] Muhammad-'Ali, having obtained Kheiralla's support, sent his son Shu'a'u'lláh to Kenosha to try to spread opposition to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [SBBH1p240] `Abdu'l-Karím and Shu'a'u'lláh apparently met in Kenosha. The point that they disagreed on was Kheiralla's insistence that his teachings be regarded as authoritative. [SBBH!p240]	Hájí `Abdu'l-Karim-i-Tihrani; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Mírzá Sinore Raffie; Covenant-breaking; Shuaullah; New York, USA; United States (USA)	First Persian Bahá'í to visit North America
1900 (In the year) 190-	Sarah Farmer put Green Acre at the disposal of the Bahá'ís after her pilgrimage to `Akká in 1900. [BFA2:144–5; GPB261] After 1900 Green Acre effectively became the site of the first Bahá'í summer school in the world, although it was not officially so until 1929. [BBRSM:104; BW5:29–30; SBBH1:125]	Sarah Farmer; Green Acre, Eliot, ME; First summer and winter schools; Eliot, ME; Maine, USA; United States (USA)	First Bahá'í summer school site
1900 22 or 23 Mar 190-	On the 3rd of January, 1990 Sarah Farmer and her friend Maria Wilson boarded the SS Füst Bismark for the Mediterranean. On board they discovered two old friends, Josephine Locke and Elizabeth Knudson who were on their way to pilgrimage. The party sailed to Egypt and while awaiting 'Abdu'l-Bahá's permission to go to Akka, spent time with Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl. They arrived in Akka on the 23rd of March, 1900. In preparation Miss Farmer had prepared a list of 15 questions to ask 'Abdu'l-Bahá but forgot them in her accomodations when she was called to meet Him. He answered all of questions in order. [GAP27-29; VAB37-39]	Sarah Farmer; Maria Wilson; Pilgrimage; Haifa, Israel
1900 c. 16 Mar 190-	The Chicago community re-organized by selecting a ten-member Board of Council. Neither Kheiralla nor any of his supporters were on the Board. [BFA1:XXIX, 170; The Service of Women on the Institutions of the Baha'i Faith]	Board of Council; Spiritual Assemblies; LSA; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Chicago, IL; United States (USA)
1900 8 Mar 190-	At a meeting in Kenosha, Kheiralla publicly announced his doubts about `Abdu'l-Bahá's leadership of the Bahá'í community. He also said that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was not the return of Christ has be had been teaching. [BFA1:XXIX; SBBH1:96; SBBH2:117; SBBH1p96] He he had allied himself with Muhammad-`Alí. [SSBH1:96] The Bahá'ís effectively divided into two camps. There had been two to three thousand believers in North America in 1900, by 1902, 1,700 had left the Faith leaving six or seven hundred of whom three hundred were "Behaists" and the rest "Abbasites" or "Behais" (followers of 'Abdu'l-Bahá). By 1906 the US Census of Religions reported that the number of Bahá'ís had risen to 1,280 and the "Behaists" numbered on forty. The Kenosha Behaists continued to exist until the early 1950s. [SSBH1:96-97; WOB82; SBBH14p7] To counter the effects of this, Abdu'l-Baha, in 1900 and 1901, sent teachers to America who were completely loyal to the Center of the Covenant and well-informed on the teachings of Baha'u'llah. They were Mirza Abu'l-Fadl and Mirza Asad'u'llah. Mr. Chase wrote, with these teachers came the first opportunity for a correct and intimate knowledge of the true Bahá'í teachings...rather than psychic and occult experiments...Many persons who had conceived views imbued with imaginations and superstitions fell away from the Cause, but those who remained discovered such spiritual light,...and power in the teachings, that they were deeply confirmed in their belief, and clung to it.. ." [from a short paper entitled 'A Brief History of the American Development of the Bahá'í Movement,' printed in Star of the West, Volume V, number 17.] For the changes to the Bahá'í community as a result of this schism see SSBH1:96–9 and SSBH2:117–20.	Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Mírzá Muhammad Ali; Covenant-breaking; Kenosha, WI; Wisconsin, USA; United States (USA)
1900 Jan 190-	The Behais Publishing and Supply Board was created in Chicago. It was the property of four Chicao Bah´'ís, Thornton Chase, Arthur Agnew, Charles Greenleaf and Frank Hoffman. This same entity is now called the Bahá'í Publishing Trust. [BFA1:XXIX; BFA2p24-25]	- Publishing Trusts; Chicago, IL; United States (USA)
c. 1900 190-	The Kitáb-i-Aqdas was translated by Anton Haddad. It was not published but circulated in typescript form. [BFA2:27; SA251] He had made his second pilgrimage in 1988. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p3]	Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); * Translation; Anton Haddad; United States (USA)
1900 (In the year) 190-	The publication of Prayers, Tablets, Instructions and Miscellany, together with pilgrim's notes of the second party of American Bahá'ís to visit Akka, Palestine: Edward and Lua Getsinger, Arthur and Elizabeth Dodge and William and Anna Hoar. This book "appeared at a time when Khayru'lláh's total alienation was no longer in doubt". [AB87] Ali-Kuli Khan was with that group of pilgrims. When one looks at this small book or only 91 pages, one is amazed at how little these early Western Bahá'ís had of the Words and the Writings...and how deep their faith was that so little sufficed. [AB88]	* Publications; * Translation; * Prayer texts; Edward Getsinger; Arthur Dodge; William Hoar; Lua Getsinger; Elizabeth Dodge; Anna Hoar; Chicago, IL; United States (USA)
1900 (In the year) 190-	Charlotte and Henry Morton moved from Kenosha to Milwaukee, becoming the city's first Bahá'í residents. By 1906, the Milwaukee community had grown to fourteen members. [Encyclopedia of Milwaukee]	Charlotte and Henry Morton; Charlotte and Henry Morton; Milwaukee, WI	first Bahá'ís in Milwaukee
1900 (Early part) 190-	`Abdu'l-Bahá began to build the foundations of the Shrine of the Báb. [CB223] Note that the number 8 is prominent in the design of the Shrine of the Báb and the gardens. Mr. Giachery noted that Shoghi Effendi reported 'Abdu'l-Bahá to have said that it was because the Báb was the eighth Manifestation of those religions whose followers still exist. [SER84]	Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Mount Carmel; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; Eight (number); - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
1900 (In the year) 190-	A Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the American believers was presented through 'Abdu'l-Karim Effendi, who had been the teacher of Dr. Ibrahim Kheiralla. Mr. Arthur Pillsbury Dodge received the first Tablet ever to an American believer, written in Arabic by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in his own handwriting and translated by Mr. Anton Haddad. A Tablet to the Hoboken Assembly was received through Mr. J.F. Brittingham. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p4]	Abdel Karim Effendi Teherani; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; Arthur Pillsbury Dodge; Anton Haddad; James F. Brittingham; New York, USA; United States (USA)
c. 1900 190-	See Summon up Remembrance p10-15 by Marzieh Gail for a description of life in Persia 1880s -> early 20th Century. Tehran had been the capital since 1788, before that it was Shiraz and before that Isfahan and Qazvin. None of the buildings had windows that opened onto the street to prevent noble ladies from being offended should they have a glance inside. Upper class families enjoyed the benefits of the "Mustamarrí" (Perpetual), an annual stipend that came down to them from long-ago ancestors. Women entertained with lavish parties, competing to outdo each other. There is a story which may not be apocryphal of a hostess who received her guest wearing a dress in the style of the latest Paris fashion. At the return party the following week the hostess had dressed all of her serving maid in gowns identical to the one the former hostess had worn. Women tried to amass large sums of money to ensure "good" marriages for their daughters. The gentry functioned according to the unwritten rules of Sha'n which was rank, dignity, ancestral prestige, personal talent, intellectual attainment, family honour, and social prominence was always combined with ancient blood. It was like "noblesse oblige" or the Chinese concept of face. A noble man could not appear in public without a bevy of attendants. Such a man could not carry a package in public nor could he consort with tradesmen or even merchants as equals. Even relatives of lesser rank could not remain seated in his presence. Slavery was still common, up to 1/4 of the population were slaves by some estimates. The entire population was subject to "rasm". These were rules that had become crystallized and so reflexive that anyone daring to break these rules would be attacked. 'Abdu'l-Bahá said the Persians lay in a strange sleep [SDC8] Both the leaders and the masses were under the control of the clergy who acted in a predictable manner to the advent of a new Manifestation. Graft was rampant in every government department. The Persian word f.or it "madákhil was a cherished national institution and could be translated as "commission", 'perquisite', 'douceur', or 'consideration'. The custom of ta'áruf was rigidly observed. This was a long exchange of compliment and ritual courtesies, not necessarily heartfelt, the ceremonial greetings, and social formalities. If someone admires one of your possessions you must offer it as a gift but ritual courtesy forbids you to take the gift.	Marzieh Gail; Iran
c. 1900 190-	For the state of affairs in Haifa just after the turn of the century see CB231-234.	Covenant-breaking; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Haifa, Israel
1900 (In the year) 190-	The publication of Tablets Revealed by the Blessed Perfection and Abdul-Beha Abbas. 13p. It consisted of miscellaneous tablets "brought to this country by Haji Mirza Hassan, Mirza Assad' Ullah, and Mirza Hussien." Published in New York by the Board of Counsel. The first two selections, including the Short Healing Prayer and the last one are from Bahá'u'lláh; the others are by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Includes a "prayer for the confirmation of the American government." The most recent translation of this prayer can be found at bahai.org. [Collins4.278]	* Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; New York, USA; United States (USA)


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