Chronology: Date 1920

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1920, ascending — sort latest first

date	event	tags	firsts
1920 (in the year) 192-	The British Mandate for Palestine began. [BBR488] For `Abdu'l-Bahá's attitude to the administration see BBR339. For British accounts of `Abdu'l-Bahá and the Bahá'ís in this period see BBR339-43 and CH225-8. For details see SA140-3.	United Kingdom, History (general); History (general); * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Palestine; Israel
1920 (in the year) 192-	The House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was seized by Shí'ís. [BBD109; GBF33; GPB356-7]	House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1920 (in the year) 192-	Mírzá Ibráhím Khán, Ibtiháju'l-Mulk, was martyred in Rasht at the hands of the Jangalís. [BW18:387] Momen reports the year of martyrdom as 1921. [Bahá'í History of Gílán by Moojan Momen]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Rasht, Iran; Iran
1920 (in the year) 192-	Hyde and Clara Dunn arrived in Samoa enroute to Australia, the first Bahá'ís to visit the islands. For a history of the development of the Faith in Australia and in New Zealand, from 1920 when the Hydes arrived until 1947 when the National Spiritual Assembly initiated a systematic teaching campaign, see Outpost of a World Religion: The Bahá'í Faith in Australia, 1920-1947 by Graham Hassall in Bahá'ís in the West SBBH Vol 14 pp201-226. It is also available on Bahai-Library.com.	Hyde Dunn; Clara Dunn; - Islands; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Samoa	first to visit Samoa
1920 (In the year) 192-	George Townshend became a Bahá'í, and sent a letter of acceptance of the Faith to `Abdu'l-Bahá. [GT49]	George Townshend; - Hands of the Cause; Dublin, Ireland; Ireland
1920 (in the year) 192-	Fanny Knobloch arrived in Mozambique, the first Bahá'í to visit this country. She gave some `drawing room talks' at the mansion of the Portuguese Governor-General and spoke at various clubs. [BW2p40]	Fanny Knobloch; Mozambique	first Bahá'í to visit Mozambique
1920 (In the year) 192-	Agnes Parsons made her second pilgrimage. It was during this visit that 'Abdu'l-Baha charged her with the responsibility to arrange a convention for amity between the the coloured and the white races in Washington. [SYH124-125; TMW136]	Agnes Parsons; Pilgrimage; Race amity; Haifa, Israel; Akka, Israel; Bahji, Israel
1920 - 1922 192-	Laura and Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney visited China and the Far East from 1920 to 1922. [Film Early History of the Baha'í Faith in China 8 min 23 sec ]	Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney; Laura Clifford Barney; China
1920 early Jan 192-	The arrival of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's hand-built seven-seater Cunningham touring car made in Rochester NY by James Cunningham and Sons. The automobile probably cost in the range from $7,500 to $8.000 and was a gift from Mrs Ella Goodall Cooper. [Coachbuilt website] Mr. Fujita accompanied the shipment from the United States to Haifa where he maintained the car and was one of the drivers. The Master gave Shoghi Effendi instructions to see that it was cleared and delivered to the house after receiving notice of its arrival from Port Said. Although it was not a business day, he succeeded in getting the car delivered by taking the papers to the homes of various officials, asking them to sign the documents and give the necessary orders for the car of Sir 'Abdu'l-Baha 'Abbas to be delivered to Him at once. Although Abdul-Baha rode in the Cunningham car on occasions, it was predominantly used for transporting the pilgrims. The car has since been restored and pilgrims have the opportunity to see it. [PP28, Reflections on the Bahá'í Writings; PG126]	* `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Ella Goodall Cooper; Saichiro Fujita; Cars; Gifts; Pilgrimage; Haifa, Israel
1920 Jan 192-	`Abdu'l-Bahá wrote a Tablet to a group in Chile. [SWAB:246-50]	* `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; Chile
1920 27 Jan 192-	The passing of Joseph H. Hannen, (b. January 27, 1920, Allegheny, Pennsylvania) Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahá a week after he was knocked down by a truck in Washington, DC. [Washington Evening Star 29 Jan 1920] It was Joseph Hannen who served as a note-taker for many of the talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His tour in the United States. A number of the entries in Promulgation of Universal Peace have been accredited to him. [The Washington Times 28 January, 1928] 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent the first Tablet of the Divine Plan to the southern states in care of Joseph. He and his wife Pauline taught the Faith to African Americans; among those they taught were Louis Gregory and Mrs. Pocahontas Pope. [Bahá'í Chronicles, Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy pp 38-39 by Christopher Buck, Kalimat Press] He was buried with his wife, Pauline Amalie Knobloch Hannen (b. 29 August, 1874 d. 4 October, 1939) in Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Washington, DC. iiiii	Joseph Hannen; Pauline Hannen; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Cemeteries and graves; Tablets of the Divine Plan; Promulgation of Universal Peace (book); Pocahontas Pope; Washington, DC, USA; Allegheny, PA; United States (USA)
1920 Mar 192-	John and Louise Bosch pioneered in Tahiti until September, the first Bahá'ís to travel to the island. See BW3p368 for an account of their stay written by Louise.	Louise Bosch; John Bosch; Tahiti	the first Bahá'ís to travel to Tahiti
1920 Apr 192-	Mírzá Asadu'lláh Fádil-i-Mázandarání arrived in North America with Manúchihr Khán in time to speak at the National Convention. [AB443; SBR88; PG127] His purpose was to assist and stimulate the Bahá'í communities (1920-1921). [AB443] He stayed for one year. [AB443] He visited North America again in 1923-1925 at the request of Shoghi Effendi and arrived in time to speak at the World Unity Conference in San Francisco in March of 1925. [Li47; Fádl Mázandarání, Mírzá Asadu'lláh by Moojan Momen] See Jináb-i-Fádil Mazandarání in the United States by Fadl Mazandarani (published as Jinab-i-Fadil Mazandarani) compiled by Omeed Rameshni for transcripts of his talks. See SoW Vol 14 for photo.	Mírzá Asadullah Fadil-i-Mazandarani; Manuchihr Khan; Conventions, National; United States (USA)
1920 Apr 192-	Louis Bourgeois was selected as the architect for the Chicago House of Worship. [DP94; GPB303; SBBH1:145] For details of the designs and selection process see DP76-100. See CT159 for the source of inspiration for the design. See FMH75-76 for details of a visit by Willard and Doris McKay to his home. He reported that "the inspiration for the Temple was from another realm and that he had been conscious, from the beginning, that Bahá'ulláh was the creator of the building."	Louis Bourgeois; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Architecture; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Architects; Wilmette, IL; Chicago, IL; United States (USA)	first House of Worshp
1920 3 Apr 192-	The founders of Teheran branch of Societé Nonahalan 'Children's Savings Fund' were Mirza Mohammed Tabib, Miss Lillian Kappes, Mirza Nuredin, Doctor Susan Moody, and Goodsea Ashraf Khanom. [Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran] The Bahá'í Children's Savings Company, known in Iran as Shirkat-i Nawnahalan, began as a savings bank for Bahá'í children in 1917 and was founded through 'Abdu'l-Bahá's encouragement. [Bahá'í Teachings 4 Oct 2012]	Children's Savings Fund (Iran); Nonahalan Society; Mírzá Mohammed Tabib; Lillian Kappes; Mírzá Nuredin; Goodsea Ashraf Khanom; Nawnahalan; Tehran, Iran; Iran; Susan Moody
1920 10 Apr 192-	Clara and Hyde Dunn arrived in Sydney, Australia. [AB445] SBR158 says this was 18 Apr 1919. They are thought to be the first Bahá'í pioneers to have arrived at their post after the release of the Tablets of the Divine Plan. [G. Hassel] Within three years they had visited 225 towns. [Keynote address by Dr. Vahid Saberi at the Heroes Teaching Conference 6-7 April, 2019] By the time Hyde passed away in Sydney in 1941 the Bahá'í Teachings had been taken to every State; Local Spiritual Assemblies had been established in Auckland, Sydney and Adelaide; the National Spiritual Assembly had been established in 1934 and the Yerrinbool Bahá'í School had been inaugurated in 1938. [Spiritual conquerors of this wide, brown land by Graham Hassall] In 2020 the Australian community commemorated the centenary this event. A 26-page booklet called A Vision of Unity was published. See Outpost of a World Religion: The Bahá'í Faith in Australia 1920-1947 by Graham Hassall in SBBH14 p201 and in Journal of Religious History, 16:3, pages 315-338 1991-06.	Clara Dunn; Hyde Dunn; - Hands of the Cause; Sydney, Australia; Australia	the first Bahá'í pioneers to have arrived at their post after the release of the Tablets of the Divine Plan
1920 20 Apr 192-	Shoghi Effendi left Haifa for France with the intention of taking up his study of English at Oxford University. As instructed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá he stayed in a sanitarium in Neuilly (Maison d'Hydrothérapie et de convalescence du Parc de Neuilly, 6 Boulevard du Château, Neuilly-sur-Seine) before leaving for England in July. [SEO58] See AY179-186 for and account of Shoghi Effendi's stay in the Paris area. According to Marzieh Gail he was probably in the area from about the 9th of April until the 13th of July.	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Balliol College, Oxford University; Haifa, Israel; Oxford, England; United Kingdom; Neuilly, France; France
1920 27 Apr 192-	`Abdu'l-Bahá was invested with the insignia of the Knighthood of the British Empire as Sir Abbas Effendi in a ceremony in Haifa. [AB443; BBRXXX, 343-5; CH214; DH149; GPB306; The Glorious Journey by Craig Weaver and Helen Bond p19] For the document recommending `Abdu'l-Bahá for knighthood, see BBR344. The knighthood was in recognition of `Abdu'l-Bahá's humanitarian work during the war for famine relief. [AB443] He accepted the honour as a gift from a `just king'. [AB443] He did not use the title. [AB443] For Lady Blomfield's account see AB443-4 and CH214-15. See SoW vol 13 No 11 p298. See Senn McGlinn's Abdu'l-Baha's British knighthood.	`Abdu'l-Bahá, Knighthood (KBE); * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); World War I; Charity and relief work; Social and economic development; Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; Haifa, Israel; Abu-Sinan, Israel; Palestine; Israel; United Kingdom
1920 27 Apr 192-	The design for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar at Wilmette, Illinois, was finally chosen by the forty-nine delegates present at the Twelfth Annual Convention of Bahá'í Temple Unity, being held at the Hotel McAlpin, New York. Excavation at the site began on the 24th of September and construction commenced on the 20th of December.	Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; New York, USA; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL
1920 mid July - mid October 192-	Shoghi Effendi arrived in England to take up his studies at Oxford. His stated objective was: "My sole aim is to perfect my English, to acquire the literary ability to write it well, speak it well & translate correctly & eloquently from Persian & Arabic into English. My aim is to concentrate for two years upon this object & to acquire it through the help of a tutor, by attending lectures, by associating with cultured & refined literary circles & by receiving exercises in Phonetics. I would be much obliged if you could help me along that line." [SEO61] He spent one week in London. He brought with him Tablets from the Master for Lady Blomfield, Lord Lamington and Major Tudor-Pole. 21 July: Shoghi Effendi met Dr. Esslemont at a meeting of the believers Lindsay Hall in Notting Hill Gate. The meeting was also attended by Mr and Mrs Ober visiting from America. 22 July: Dr Esslemont called on Shoghi Effendi at his hotel and they went to Miss Grand's home were the Obers were staying. 23 July: Dr Esslemont met Shoghi Effendi at Miss Rosenberg's and together they went to the Grand home where some 17 people were introduced to the Faith. [PG141] 26 July: Dr Esslemont came to London to meet Shoghi Effendi and they both visited Miss Herrick. [PG142] He relocated to Oxford and stayed at the Randolph Hotel. He met with professors and looked for tutors. [PG142] Probably in the early days of August Shoghi Effendi met with Lord Lamington. [PG142] Although it was still the long vacation Shoghi Effendi started his work with the assistance of a tutor. [PG142] 10-15 September: Shoghi Effendi visited Dr Esslemont at the sanitorium where he practiced in Bournemouth. They were joined by Shoghi Effendi's sister Rúhangíz and by a Persian believer Aflátún. [PG142-143]	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Translation; London, England; Oxford, England; Bournemouth, England; United Kingdom
1920 17 May 192-	The Tablet to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace was delivered to the Executive Comittee in The Hague. Ahmad Yazdáni and 'Alí Muhammad 'Ibn-i-Asdaq learned that the Central Organization had been all but dissolved and that the Executive Committee's objective, to hold a third peace conference, had been surpassed by their country's membership in the recently formed League of Nations in Geneva. [AB438; BBD1 15; GPB308; EB176] See also The Journey of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to The Hague. It is a photographic chronology by Jelle and Adib de Vries of the Netherlands. See BWNS1378 and BWNS1431. It was printed in the Star of the West Vol 11 No 8 1 August 1920. On the 12th of June, the Executive Committee of the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague responded to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet. Ahmad Yazdani immediately forwarded it to Haifa.	* `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Lawh-i-Hague (Tablet to The Hague); Ibn-i-Asdaq (Mírzá `Alí-Muhammad); Peace; World peace; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; Central Organization for a Durable Peace; Haifa, Israel; The Hague, Netherlands; Netherlands
1920 21 May 192-	The execution at Sultánábád of Hájí `Arab by hanging. [BBRXXX, 444-6; BW18:387]	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Sultanabad, India; Iran
1920 24 May 192-	Charles Greenleaf, (b. 6 May, 1857 in Wisconsin), Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá, passed away at the home of William Harry Randall in Boston. He was interred in Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Show Map Section K Lot 42. [SBR105; Find a grave] For details of his life see SBR97-105. For his obituary see SW11, 19:321-2.	Charles Greenleaf; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; William Harry Randall; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Boston, MA; Massachusetts, USA; United States (USA)
1920 11 Jun 192-	Shoghi Effendi made application to Balliol College at Oxford University as a non-collegiate student for a period of two years. [PG134]	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; Balliol College, Oxford University; Universities; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; Neuilly, France; France; Oxford, England; United Kingdom
1920 Jul-Aug 192-	Fanny Knobloch, the first Bahá'í teacher in South Africa, arrived in Cape Town. [BW2:40]. In her first week she met Miss Busby who within a very short time is the first person to become a Bahá'í in South Africa.	Fanny Knobloch; Cape Town, South Africa; South Africa	first Bahá'í in South Africa; the first Bahá'í teacher in South Africa
1920 Jul 192-	Harlan and Grace Ober made a pilgrimage to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Haifa. They returned via Germany and England where they had the privilege of meeting Shoghi Effendi, then a student at Oxford. In Germany, at the suggestion of 'Abdu'l-Bahá they went to Leipzig where they spoke about the Faith at the Theosophical Society where two persons accepted the Faith. One was future Hand of the Cause Dr Hermann Grossmann and the other was Frau Lina Benke who shared the message with her husband George Adam Benke, the first European martyr. [BW13p869]	Harlan Ober; Grace Robarts Ober; Pilgrimage; Hermann Grossmann; Lina Benke; George Benke; Haifa, Israel; Germany; Leipzig, Germany; Oxford, England
1920 1 Jul 192-	'Abdu'l-Bahá sent His second Tablet to The Hague. In this second Tablet `Abdu'l-Bahá defined the Bahá'í peace program and covered a wide spectrum of peace-producing Bahá'í social and spiritual teachings. [BW3:12] It was printed in the Star of the West Vol 11 No 17 19 January, 1921. See as well 'Abdu'l-Bahá Champion of Universal Peace by Hoda Mahmoudi and Janet Khan.	Lawh-i-Hague (Tablet to The Hague); Second Tablet to The Hague; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; Central Organization for a Durable Peace; The Hague, Netherlands; Netherlands
1920 8 Jul 192-	August Rudd, a Swede who had becme a Bahá'í in America, returned to his native country, to become the first Bahá'í in Sweden. [BWT8:980-2].	August Rudd; Sweden	The the first Bahá'í in Sweden
1920 19 Jul 192-	Shoghi Effendi departed from France two weeks after receiving 'Abdu'l-Bahá's permission to study at Oxford. According to Dr J. Fallscheer, the German woman physician that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had engaged to attend to the ladies of His household, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had decided to send Shoghi Effendi to England while he was still in high school. [PG137-138]	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; Balliol College, Oxford University; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Josephine Fallscheer; Paris, France; France; Oxford, England; United Kingdom
1920 28 Jul 192-	Shoghi Effendi journeyed from Oxford to London to attend the weekly public Bahá'í meeting at Lindsay Hall in Notting Hill Gate. Ethel Rosenberg welcomed Shoghi Effendi, Dr. John Esslemont, who was visiting from Bournemouth, Helen Grand and Grace and Harlan Ober from the United States also attended. After short introductory remarks from Miss Rosenberg, both Grace and Harlan Ober spoke. Shoghi Effendi chanted a Persian prayer. [EJR228]	* Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Ethel Rosenberg; John Esslemont; Helen Grand; Grace Robarts Ober; Harlan Ober; London, England; United Kingdom
1920 After Jul 192-	The first Argentineans to become Bahá'ís, Hermann Grossmann and his sister Elsa Grossman, accepted the Faith in Leipzig in 1920. They were born in Argentina and emigrated to Germany in 1909. Dr Grossman heard of the Faith at a public meeting given by Harlan and Grace Ober at the Theosophical Society. [BW13:869]	Hermann Grossmann; Elsa Grossmann; Harlan Ober; Grace Robarts Ober; Theosophical Society; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Leipzig, Germany; Germany	The first Argentineans to become Bahá'ís, Hermann Grossman and his sister Elsa Grossman,
1920 Sep 192-	The tombs of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs in Isfahán were demolished by a mob. [BBR437; LB94] For Western responses see BBR437-9.	Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (King of Martyrs); Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn (Beloved of Martyrs); King of Martyrs and Beloved of Martyrs; Cemeteries and graves; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; - Persecution, Mobs; Isfahan, Iran; Iran
1920 24 Sep 192-	Boring began at the site of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette to determine the depth of the bedrock. [DP104] Soon afterwards construction began. [DP108]	Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Wilmette, IL; United States (USA)
1920 Oct 192-	Shoghi Effendi entered Balliol College, Oxford University. [CB284; DH149; GBF11-12] For his purpose in going to Oxford see GBF12. For his time in Oxford see PP34-8. A Q Faizi is reported to have said, during a talk to pilgrims in May-June, 1965 that "Shoghi Effendi was sent to Oxford to protect him from potential enemies, not to learn English or be educated." [SDSC273]	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Balliol College, Oxford University; Universities; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Oxford, England; United Kingdom
1920 Oct 192-	Mírzá Mustafá was killed at Farúgh, Fárs, and other Bahá'ís were imprisoned. [BW18:387] He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; Farugh, Iran; Fars, Iran; Iran
1920 16 Oct 192-	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - The Michaelmas Term 1920 Because there wasn't a vacancy in Balliol College, Shoghi Effendi could not register during the first term. Although he was not registered in the College he attended every day and took instruction from tutors. During this time he took lodgings at 45 Broad Street. [PG151-155] 23 October: Shoghi Effendi officially matriculated in the Non-Collegiate Delegacy, a week after starting lectures for the Michaelmas term (Oct-Christmas, or, more formally Michaelmas term — 13 Sundays before to 5 Sundays before the feast day of St Hilary). [PG157] Shoghi Effendi hosted a visit from his childhood friend Ali Yazdi who was on his way to America. [RG 158-159]	Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Oxford, England; United Kingdom
1920 Dec 192-	The passing of Hájí Mírzá Haydar-Alí Isfaháni known as 'the Angel of Mount Carmel' in Haifa. He was buried in the Bahá'í Cemetery on Mount Carmel. [BBD98; EB250] Acting on the request of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he wrote Bahá'í Martyrdoms in Persia in the Year 1903 AD. It covered the events from March to September and was published in English as a 28-page book in 1904 and 1917. For the story of his life see RB2:438–50. For his biography see EB237-50. His autobiography was published as Stories from the Delight of Hearts - The Memoirs of Hají Mírzá Haydar-Alí, was translated by A Q Faizi and published by Kalimat in 1980.	Hájí Mírzá Haydar-`Alí (Angel of Carmel); - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Cemeteries and graves; Haifa, Israel
1920 1 Dec 192-	Lillian Frances Kappes,(b. 1878 in Hoboken, New Jersey), died of typhus fever in Tihrán. [BFA2:361; SW11, 19:324-5, AY211-212] She had gone to Tihrán nine years previously to help set up the Tarbíyat School for Girls. [SW11, 19:3 24] She was buried next to the tomb of Varqa. See Bahá'í Chronicles.	Lillian Kappes; Tarbiyat School, Tihran; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Tehran, Iran; Iran
1920 27-29 Dec 192-	The first All-India Bahá'í Convention was held in Bombay with 175 in attendance. [AB446; BBRSM194; 115]	Conferences, Bahá'í; - First conferences; Mumbai, India; India	The first All-India Bahá'í Convention


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