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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 195-, descending sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
1959 4 Nov
195-
The Hands of the Cause issued a message from their third Conclave. [MC166–70]
  • The date for the election of the Universal House of Justice was fixed at Ridván 1963. [MC166]
  • They called for the election at Ridván 1961 of 21 national spiritual assemblies in Latin America. [MC167–8]
  • They called for the election at Ridván 1962 of 11 national spiritual assemblies in Europe. [MC168]
  • They called for the election at Ridván 1961 of the International Bahá'í Council by postal ballot of the members of the national and regional spiritual assemblies constituted at Ridván 1960. [MC168]
  • The name of Hand of the Cause Charles Mason Remey was missing from the list of signatories to this letter. [MC170]
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Universal House of Justice, Election of; International Bahá'í Council; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breaking; Akka, Israel
    1959 23 Oct - 1 Nov
    195-
    The third Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was convened at Bahjí. [BW13:351; MC127-173]
  • For the agenda of the meeting see MC163–4.
  • Charles Mason Remey unsuccessfully attempted to convince his fellow Hands that the Guardianship should continue. [BBRSM130; MC217]
  • Bahji, Israel; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Charles Mason Remey; Guardianship; Covenant-breaking; Akka, Israel
    1959 Sep
    195-
    Clifford and Catherine Huxtable arrived in the Gulf Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh (albeit on 14 September 1969 see LNW101). [BW13:457] Clifford Huxtable; Catherine Huxtable; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Gulf Islands, BC first pioneers Gulf Islands
    1959 19 Aug
    195-
    John Chang, his wife and child visited Hainan Island, just off China. He thought someone with a family would attract less attention than a single man but he was asked to leave by authorities after only 14 days. [KoB 3,171] John Chang; Hainan Island, China; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh shortest duration of stay for any Knight of Baha'u'llah
    1959 18 Aug
    195-
    Cheong Siu Choi (John Z. T. Chang), the Chinese headmaster of the Leng Nam Middle School and a highly respected leader in Macau, arrived with his family on Hainan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452]
  • PH75 says this was August 1958.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Hainan Island, China
    1950 Aug
    195-
    John Z. T. Chang arrived in Hainan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Hainan Island, China first pioneer Hainan Island
    1959 14 Jun
    195-
    The Hands of the Cause announced that the remains of the cousin of the Báb had been identified and had been transferred to a cemetery. [MC161] - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Haifa, Israel
    1959 2 Jun
    195-
    The first Greek woman to become a Bahá'í, Ketty Antoniou, enrolled in Greece. Ketty Antoniou; Greece first Greek Bahá'í woman
    1959 7 May
    195-
    Donald Corbin, a pioneer to Grenada Island, made a trip to Dominica specifically to try to reach the Carib Indians. [BN No 343 September 1959 p10-11] Pioneer; Donald Corbin; - Indigenous people; Dominica; Grenada
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The Custodians announced that the resting place of the remains of the father of Bahá'u'lláh had been identified. [MC144] Bahá'u'lláh, Family of; Haifa, Israel
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The Custodians announced that the number of national and regional spiritual assemblies had risen to 31, the Faith was established in 255 countries, Bahá'ís lived in over 5,200 localities and had formed nearly 1,275 local spiritual assemblies, and Bahá'í literature had been translated into 261 languages. [MC137–8] Custodians; Statistics; Growth; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Worldwide
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Cambodia was formed in Phnom Penh. Local Spiritual Assembly; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Cambodia first Local Spiritual Assembly in Cambodia
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Grenada was formed in St George's Parish. Local Spiritual Assembly; St. Georges, Grenada; Grenada first Local Spiritual Assembly in Grenada
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Islands was formed with its seat in Suva, Fiji. [BN No 267 MY 1953 P1]
  • Its area of jurisdiction comprised of ten island groups: Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Loyalty Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, and Tonga. [BW13:308]
  • For the letter of the Custodians to the national convention see MC151–5.
  • In 1963 the Universal House of Justice announced that the Assembly was to be dissolved and succeeded by a National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean, and a National Spiritual Assembly of the South West Pacific Ocean, with the new Assemblies being formed the following year.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Suva, Fiji; Fiji; Samoa; New Caledonia; Vanuatu; Loyalty Islands; Gilbert and Ellice Islands; Marshall Islands; Cook Islands; Solomon Islands; Tonga first NSA South Pacific Islands
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Turkey was formed.
  • For the letter of the Custodians to the national convention see MoC148–51.
  • Election of the first National Assembly of Turkey had to be carried on by mailed ballots because difficulties visited upon the Faith in that country prevented the holding of the Convention. Hand of the Cause Dhikru'lláh Khádem, officially representing the Hands of the Cause, was able to visit Turkey for the occasion, as did Professor Manfichihr Ḥakím, representing the National Assembly of Persia. [BW19p297-298]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Turkey first NSA Turkey
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    Upon the establishment of an independent Spiritual Assembly for Burma, the Regional Assembly of India and Burma was succeeded by the present-day National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India. Up until 1957 this group had included Pakistan.[BW13p300]
  • For the letter of the Custodians to the national convention of Burma see MC155–7.
  • See a picture of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Burma.
  • National Spiritual Assembly of India; National Spiritual Assembly of Myanmar (Burma); Custodians; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Myanmar; India first NSA Burma
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Niagara Falls, ON was formed by joint declaration. The members were: Carol and David Bowie, Charlie and Florence Grindlay, Ben and Mary Koltermann, Amy Putnam, Joy Carter and Vi Dutoff.
  • The first Bahá'í in Niagara Falls was Charlie Grindlay.
  • The first native Niagara Falls resident to become a Bahá'í was Carol Bowie. [Ref: email from David Bowie dated 28 August 2024]
  • Carol Bowie; David Bowie; Charles Grindlay; Florence Grindlay; Ben Koltermann; Mary Koltermann; Amy Putnam; Vi Dutoff; Joy Carter; Niagara Falls, ON The first Bahá'í in Niagara Falls was Charlie Grindlay. ; The first native Niagara Falls resident to become a Bahá'í was Carol Bowie.
    1959 Ridván
    195-
    Separate national spiritual assemblies were formed for Germany and Austria. [BW13p274, 283; BBRSM186]
  • For the letter of the Custodians to the national convention of Austria see MC158–60.
  • For a photo of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Austria see WMSH244. The members were: Johanna (Hauff) von Werthern, Franz Pollinger, Bertha Matthisen, Leopoldine Heilinger, Dr Mehdi Varqá, Gunther Hang, Ursula Kohler, Dr Masoud Berdjis and Dr Aminolláh Ahmedzadeh.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Austria; Germany first NSA Austria; first NSA for Germany
    1959 10 Apr
    195-
    Representatives of the Bahá'í International Community presented to the President of the Human Rights Commission, Ambassador Gunewardene of Ceylon, a statement endorsing the Genocide Convention. [BW13:791–4] Human rights; United Nations; Genocide; Bahá'í International Community; - BIC statements; - Statements; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1959 Mar
    195-
    A number of Bahá'ís, members of the local spiritual assembly, were arrested in Ankara, Turkey. [MC306]
  • The incident received wide coverage in the press and the Bahá'ís were eventually released from prison. [MC306]
  • A court case was subsequently brought against the Bahá'ís by the public prosecutor, who claimed that the Faith is a 'Tarighat', a sect forbidden by the law of the land, and lengthy litigation followed. [MC306–7]
  • Persecution, Turkey; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; LSA; Court cases; Ankara, Turkey; Turkey
    1959 1 Feb
    195-
    The 'first Dependency of the Mashriqul-Adhkár in Wilmette', the Bahá'í Home for the Aged, opened. [BW13:747]
  • For the history of its building see BW13:743–8.
  • For pictures see BW13:742, 744–7.
  • See National Bahá'í Review No 4 April 1968 p11.
  • Homes for the aged; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Dependencies of; Wilmette, IL; United States (USA) first Dependency the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Wilmette’
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    The House of 'Abbúd was renovated and restored. [MC219] House of Abbud (Akká); Restoration; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'í communities in the United States began the observation of World Peace Day to call attention to the need for world peace. [BBD175]
  • This was replaced in 1985 by the observance of the UN International Day of Peace, which occurs on the third Tuesday in September. [BBD175]
  • World Peace Day; United Nations; International Day of Peace; Peace; World peace; United States (USA)
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    The first Inuit in Alaska to become a Bahá'í, William Wiloya, enrolled in Nome. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - First believers by background; Inuit people; Nome, AK; Alaska, USA; United States (USA) first Inuit Bahá’í Alaska
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    The mansion at Mazra'ih was renovated. [MC219] House of Bahá'u'lláh (Mazraih); Restoration; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    The establishment of a Bahá'í Publishing Trust in Iran.

    Since 1899, Bahá'í sacred texts had been hectographed and mimeographed by Mīrzā ʿAlī-Akbar Rūḥānī (known as Moḥebb-al-Solṭān) and others. Although the restrictive laws of the country prohibited the Bahá'ís from printing their literature by letterpress, through the establishment of the Trust, Bahá'í literature was regularly and systematically published in typewritten or calligraphic form until 1979 when the Trust was closed under the Islamic régime. Between 1959 and 1979, several hundred titles were produced and distributed. The trust was also responsible for the publication of circulars, newsletters, pamphlets, and magazines. In 1975 alone, it produced 181,390 copies of books and pamphlets totaling 31 million pages. In the early 1970s an audiovisual center was established in Iran which made rapid growth during the few years of its existence. In the mid-1970s the centre produced 27 cassette programs containing prayers, songs, and speeches amounting to 40,000 copies. They also produced 28 reels of film. [BW12p292; BW16p263; BW12p570; BAHAISM v. The Bahai Community in Iran by V. Rafati]

    - Publishing Trusts; Mírzá `Alí-Akbar Rúhání; Mohebb-al-Soltan; Iran
    1958 21–28 Nov
    195-
    The Second Conclave of the Hands of the Cause convened at Bahjí. [BW13:347–8; MoC55-125]
  • It was attended by 25 of the 27 Hands of the Cause. [BW13:347; MoC118]
  • The Hands of the Cause called for the election of the Universal House of Justice at the time of the Most Great Jubilee in 1963. [BBRSM129; BW13:351; MoC122]
  • Picture of the Hands gathered in the house of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Most Great Jubilee (1963); Centenaries; Akka, Israel
    1958 1 Nov
    195-
    The monument marking Shoghi Effendi's resting place was completed. [MC117]
  • Dust from the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh was placed in the foundations. [MC117] li>For a description of the resting place see BBD194–5 and MC135–6.
  • The monument was paid for from a Memorial Fund established after Shoghi Effendi's passing. Money in excess of the amount required was spent on the teaching work and on the construction of the Temples. [MC132]
  • Marble for the monument came from Chiampo, Italy as for the Archives Building, the Shine of the Báb, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, The Terraces project, the Monument Gardens and the Houses of Worship in India and Samoa. It was cut and chiseled by a firm called Margraf, formerly known as Industria Marmi Vincentini. [BWNS1223; PP450 ]
  • Shoghi Effendi, Resting place of (London); Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Margraf; London, England; United Kingdom
    1958 27 – 29 Sep
    195-
    The fifth Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade and convened in Singapore. [BW13:331]
  • Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by eight other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:331–2]
  • For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC111–6.
  • For a report of the conference see BW13:331–2.
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Leroy Ioas; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Singapore; - Asia
    1958 23 Sep
    195-
    Chartered planes took the conference delegates to Singapore. Singapore
    1958 21 Sep
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas arrived in Indonesia and was plunged into negotiations regarding the holding of the conference.
  • He met with local Bahá'ís and anointed them with attar of roses as they passed to the room to view the portrait of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:331–2]
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Leroy Ioas; Indonesia
    1958 14 Sep
    195-
    A week before the fifth Intercontinental conference is due to convene in Djakarta, Indonesia, the government withdrew the permit to hold the conference. [BW13:331]
  • For the story of why the permit was revoked see DM83–5.
  • The cancellation of the conference in Djakarta began a period of severe repression of the Faith in Indonesia which eventually led to the Faith being banned in 1962. [DM85, 88]
  • Persecution, Indonesia; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Indonesia
    1958 25–29 Jul
    195-
    The fourth Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade and convened in Frankfurt, Germany. [BW13:327]
  • Amelia Collins, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by ten other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:327]
  • For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC102–6.
  • For a report of the conference see BW13:327–9.
  • Amelia Collins; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Frankfurt, Germany; Germany; - Europe
    1958 26 Jun
    195-
    Paul Adams, from Reading, England, having obtained permission to accompany Svalbard's chief hunter on a fishing tour in the summer and to spend the winter with him in Sassen Fjord, arrived in Spitzbergen and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456]
  • See also Adams, Arctic Island Hunter published by George Ronald in 1961. iiiii
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Svalbard, Norway
    1958 21 Jun
    195-
    The South Australian Government Gazette announced that Mr. Harold Collis Featherstone had been registered as an officiating registrar under the Marriage Act, 1936-1937. This meant that local spiritual assemblies in South Australia could now conduct marriages in conjunction with the Officiating Registrar. [BN No 333 November 1958 p8] Recognition (legal); Australia
    1958 12 Jun
    195-
    The Custodians released the 'Statement regarding the Guardianship', explaining that Shoghi Effendi had left no heir, that only he could appoint a second Guardian and that the Bahá'ís must dismiss all hopeful expectation that a Will appointing a second Guardian will be found. [MC100-2] Guardianship; Haifa, Israel
    1958 2–4 May
    195-
    The third Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade convened in Wilmette, Illinois. [BW13:323]
  • Hand of the Cause Dr Ugo Giachery, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by four other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:323]
  • For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC90–8.
  • For a report of the conference see BW13:323–5.
  • See Notes by Emma Maxie Jones and Anonymous.
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ugo Giachery; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Wilmette, IL; Illinois, USA; United States (USA); United States (USA)
    1958 May
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Papua New Guinea was formed in Madina Village, in New Ireland.
  • This was the first all-indigenous local spiritual assembly in the South Pacific.
  • Local Spiritual Assembly; New Ireland, Papua New Guinea first Local Spiritual Assembly Papua New Guinea; first all-indigenous Local Spiritual Assembly in South Pacific
    1958 26 Apr
    195-
    The passing of Dr M Khodad Fozdar in Singapore.

    He was the first Indian Parsi to accept the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh. In 1950 he and his wife Shirin moved to Singapore. He pioneered to the Andaman Islands and became a Knight of Baha'u'lláh in response to the Indian seven-year plan. [BW13p892]

    M Khodad Fozdar; - In Memoriam; Shirin Fozdar; Singapore; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh first Indian Parsi to accept the Faith
    1958 22 - 25 Apr
    195-
    The second Annual Regional National Convention for the South American countries of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela was held in Guayaquil. This was the highlight of the year for Ecuador being that it was their first time to host a National Convention. The delegates for Ecuador were: Juan Luis Aguirre and Alberto Carbo Medina from Guayaquil community and Gayle Woolson and Guillermo Sotomayer from Quito. At the time Ecuador still had only two local assemblies, four isolated centers and only two new believers for the year. [Heroes of God: History of the Bahá'í Faith in Ecuador, 1940-1979 by Helen Bassett Hornby p96] Conventions, National; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Ecuador; Latin America first National Convention held in Ecuador
    1958 Ridván
    195-
    The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (the Southern Rhodesia. [KoB111] Bulawayo, Zimbabwe The first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
    1958 Ridván
    195-
    The first Spiritual Assembly was formed on Terceira Island in the Azores. It was not until December of that year that the first two native believers embraced the Faith. [BW14p317] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Terceira, Azores
    1958 Ridván
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of France was formed. [BW13p274]
  • For the message of the Custodians to the French National Convention see MC86–9.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; France first Local Spiritual Assembly France
    1958 Ridván
    195-
    The formation of the first local spiritual assembly of Taipei. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p25] Local Spiritual Assembly; Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan The formation of the first local spiritual assembly of Taipei, Taiwan
    1958 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly of Macau was formed. Local Spiritual Assembly; Macau first Local Spiritual Assembly Macau
    1958 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga was formed at Nuku'alofa. Local Spiritual Assembly; Nukualofa, Tonga; Tonga first Local Spiritual Assembly Kingdom of Tonga
    1958 20 Apr
    195-
    Mírzá Ahmad (Esphahani) Sohrab, the Covenant-breaker who rebelled against Shoghi Effendi, died. [MC90; CBN No 102 July 1958 p1]
  • For the story of his defection from the Faith see CB343–7.
  • He was buried in the Saint Paul Episcopal Church Cemetery, Glen Cove, Nassau County, New York.iiiii
  • Bahaipedia.
  • Ahmad Sohrab; Covenant-breaking; New History Society; Glen Cove, NY; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1958 22 Mar
    195-
    The foundation stone of the first Mashriqul-Adhkár of the Antipodes in Sydney was laid by Hands of the Cause Charles Mason Remey and Clara Dunn. [BW13:321] * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Sydney; Charles Mason Remey; Clara Dunn; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Sydney, Australia; Australia first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Antipodes
    1958 21–24 Mar
    195-
    The second Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade convenes in Sydney, Australia. [BW13:319]
  • Hand of the Cause Charles Mason Remey, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative and who was the architect of the Mother Temple of Australasia, attended, accompanied by four other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:317]
  • For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC72–5.
  • For a report of the conference see BW13:319–21.
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Charles Mason Remey; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Sydney; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; Architecture; - Architects; Sydney, Australia; Australia; - Australasia
    1958 26 Jan
    195-
    The foundation stone of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of Africa was laid by Hands of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and Músá Banání. [BW13:317]
  • The Guardian had sent special gifts to be presented during the laying of the foundation stone. These included a Persian carpet from the Holy Shrine at Bahji, some plaster from the prison of Máh-Kú and a silver box containing the earth from Bahá'u'lláh's Shrine. These last two items were placed beneath the foundation stone by Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and Hand of the Cause Músá Banání. [CG44]
  • * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Kampala; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Musa Banani; Kampala, Uganda; Uganda first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Africa
    1958 23–28 Jan
    195-
    The first Intercontinental Conference held at the mid-point of the Crusade convened in Kampala, Uganda. [BW13:317]
  • Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by Dr Lutfu'lláh Hakím.
  • For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC56–60.
  • For a report of the conference see BW13:317.
  • Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Lutfullah Hakim; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - First conferences; Kampala, Uganda; Uganda; - Africa first Intercontinental Conference at the mid-point of Crusade in Kampala
    1958 1 Jan
    195-
    The passing of Lillian Stevens, a founding member of the first Torquay Spiritual Assembly in 1938. Lillian Stevens; - In Memoriam; Torquay, England
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    A new edition of Some Answered Questions was published by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee which resulted in some discussion with Laura Dreyfus Barney. At some point she had given the copyright to the Bahá'í Publishing Committee but she expected to be consulted on matters related to the book. She said that she did not consider Some Answered Questions "my book" but that "it is in my trust".

    When she received a copy of the new edition in March she made suggestions about the Introduction of the last printing of the book as she did not feel the length and character of the Introduction did not "harmonize" with the text that followed and they did not make any point about the authenticity of the material with was equivalent to a Tablet that had been signed and sealed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. She clarified that when posing questions and obtaining the answers she had not wished to trust her notes and that was why at least four people were present during the sessions. She also clarified that all of the talks had taken place in Akka, not in Haifa. Three hundred copies if the book had been printed and it would have been costly to eliminate the Introduction and the dust jacket so a promise was made to include her suggestions on subsequent printings. [LB322-327]

    This was probably about the 8th edition of Some Answered Questions in English. Subsequent editions were done in 1964, 1968, 1970, 1971 and in 2014 by the Bahá'í World Centre. [BEL3.117-3.130]

  • It had been published in Germany in 1959, the first nine chapters had been published in Korean in 1960 and in Italian by the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy and Switzerland in 1961. [LB236]
  • Some Answered Questions (book); Laura Clifford Barney; Chicago, IL
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    Adrienne and Dempsey Morgan went to Vietnam and over succeeding years helped establish administrative procedures among the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Vietnam. For lack of visa they left for Thailand in 1959, staying for two years before continuing to Phnom Penh. They returned to Saigon in 1961 before the end of the year. [Servants of the Glory p5-9; Bahaipedia] Dempsey Morgan; Adrienne Morgan; Vietnam
    1958 In the late 1950's
    195-
    In the late 1950s a meeting that was held in Famagusta at which representatives of all three main generations of Bahá'ís were present including: Jalal Azal representing the followers of Mirza Yahya (Bayanic), `Ismat and others represented the followers of Mirza Muhammad `Ali (Unitarian Baha'is), and Ahmad Sohrab represented those opposed to any form of administration. One of the aims of this conference was to build a mausoleum over the grave of Mirza Yahya. [The Cyprus Exiles p102 by Moojan Momen] Mírzá Yahya (Subh-i-Azal); Covenant-breaking; Ahmad Sohrab; Jalal Azal; Ismat; Famagusta, Cyprus; Cyprus
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    The first Aleut to become a Bahá'í, Vassa Lekanoff, enrolled in Unalaska. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Unalaska, AK; Alaska, USA; United States (USA) first Aleut Bahá’í
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly of Nepal was formed in Kathmandu.
  • Prof. Anil Sarwal says it was 1960-1961
  • The first Local Spiritual Assembly was established in the capital city Kathmandu in 1961. [Yellow Place]
  • Local Spiritual Assembly; Kathmandu, Nepal; Nepal first Local Spiritual Assembly Nepal
    1957 26 Dec
    195-
    The passing of Mirzā Asad-Allāh, known as Fāżel Māzandarāni (b. Bábol, Persia 1881).
  • He became a Bahá'í in Tehran in 1909. He travelled to Egypt in 1919-1911 where he met with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and was send to India and Burma to promote the Faith.
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent him to North America for the period 1920-1921. He arrived in North America with Manúchihr Khán in time to speak at the National Convention. His purpose was to assist and stimulate the Bahá'í communities. He departed for the Holy Land on the 9th of July, 1921. [AB443; SBR88]
  • Mírzá Asadu'lláh Fádil-i-Mázandarání visited North America again in 1923-1925 at the request of Shoghi Effendi. [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.
  • In about 1924 Shoghi Effendi wrote to the Central Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Persia, asking them to gather materials towards the compilation of a general history of the Bahá'í faith. Initially this work was handed to a committee and Fāżel served as the liaison between this committee and the Assembly, of which he was himself a member at the time. However, after the committee failed to make significant progress, Fāżel took on the responsibility to compile this work himself. His work, Ẓohur-al-Ḥaqq (variously also called Tāriḵ-e Ẓohur-al-Ḥaqq and Ketāb-e Ẓohur-al-Ḥaqq) is said to be the most comprehensive history of the first century of the Bahá'í faith yet written. It records the full biographies of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and ʿAbdu'l-Baháʾ, the Faith's leading disciples and learned members, poets, martyrs, and other prominent personalities. It covers the history of the persecutions of the Bahá'ís; discusses the internal crises of the faith and, more significantly, contains excerpts from the holy writings and includes documentation and a considerable number of pictures. It was compiled in nine volumes: volumes 1-3 completed in May of 1932, the fourth in February, 1936, and the final volume in 1943. For various reasons it has not been translated into English. [Ẓohur-al-Ḥaqq]
  • Other works of Fāżel include his dictionary of commonly used proper terms and titles in Bahá'í literature, Asrār al-āṯār, which was published in five volumes (1967-72) of more than 1,600 pages.
  • Fāżel's other major work, Amr wa ḵalq, contains hundreds of selections from the Bahá'í holy writings grouped under topics related to philosophical, theological, religious, and administrative matters. The work was published in Iran (1954-74) in four volumes.
  • The Collected Works of Asadu'llah Fadil Mazandarani.
  • Wikipedia page.

    Note: There is some question about whether Shoghi Effendi considered him a Hand of the Cause. See letter addressed to Dr Peter Smith sent on behalf of the Universal House of Justice 11 August 1998 found on Baha'i Library Online. The message concludes by saying that the Universal House of Justice, in a memorandum dated 1 April 1979, has instructed that additional names should not be included in the list of the Hands of the Cause. The list of Hands of the Cause can be found at BW14p445-466.

  • Mírzá Asadullah Fadil-i-Mazandarani; Amr va Khalq (compilation); - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Bahá'í studies; Bahá'í history; Zuhur al-Haqq (Zuhurul-Haqq); * Translation; Babul (Barfurush), Iran; Iran; Tehran, Iran; India; Myanmar; United States (USA)
    1957 25 Dec
    195-
    The Hands of the Cause announced the destruction of the long, two-storey house previously occupied by Covenant-breakers which was located near the garden wall of the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh and of which Shoghi Effendi had acquired legal possession shortly before his passing. [MC11, 51]
  • The rubble was used to complete the terraces begun by Shoghi Effendi north of the mansion and forcompleting the northern gardens planned by him. iiiii
  • Covenant-breaking; Bahji, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1957 2 Dec
    195-
    On the advice of their lawyer, Dr Abraham Weinshall, the Custodians ask each National and Regional Assembly to send a letter recognizing them as the supreme body in the Cause. [MC40–1] National Spiritual Assembly; Haifa, Israel
    1957 2 Dec
    195-
    The titles to the Shrine of the Báb, the Mansion of Bahjí, and all other buildings and lands which the Covenant-Breakers had owned were transferred to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. Covenant-breaking; Ownership; - Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel; Bahji, Israel
    1957 Dec
    195-
    The first summer school in Malaysia was held at Malacca. First summer and winter schools; Summer schools; Malacca, Malaysia; Malaysia first summer school in Malaysia
    1957 Nov-1963 Apr
    195-
    Interregnum

    Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi the international administration of the Faith was carried on by the Hands of the Cause of God with the complete agreement and loyalty of the National Spiritual Assemblies and the body of the believers. This was in accordance with the Guardian's designation of the Hands as the "Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's embryonic World Commonwealth." [Message of 9 March 1965]

    The beginning of the six year ministry of the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land, or 'Custodians'. [BW16:90; WG45–6]

  • This period is known as the 'interregnum'. [BBD 120]
  • See BW14:467 for a summary of the work of the Hands of the Cause during this period.
  • The International Bahá'í Council continued to perform its duties at the World Centre under the direction of the Custodians. The appointed Council was replaced by an elected Council at Ridván of 1961. All National Assemblies and Regional National Assemblies participated in the election by postal ballot. [BBD118]
  • See alsoThe Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963: An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause.
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Custodians; Interregnum (1957-1963); Ministry of The Custodians (book); International Bahá'í Council; Universal House of Justice; Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Appointed arm; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Covenant; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1957 25 Nov
    195-
    A proclamation was issued stating that Shoghi Effendi left no heir and made no appointment of another Guardian. [BW13:341–5; MC25–30]
  • See LOG310 for an explanation of the various meanings of the word 'Guardianship'.
  • See CB388–9 for a discussion of the continuation of the institution of the Guardianship.
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Covenant; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Guardianship; Custodians; Appointed arm; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1957 25 Nov
    195-
    Nine Hands were chosen to serve as Custodians of the Faith residing in the Holy Land. [BBD57; BW13:342; DH215]
  • The Hands residing in the Holy Land were established as a legal body under the title 'The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith'.
  • The Hands chosen as first Custodians are Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Leroy Ioas, Hasan Balyuzi, 'Alí Akbar Furútan, Jalál Kházeh, Paul Haney and Adelbert Mühlschlegel. [BW13:345–6; MC40–1]
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; - Hands of the Cause, Institution; Custodians; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Leroy Ioas; Hasan Balyuzi; `Alí-Akbar Furútan; Jalal Khazeh; Paul Haney; Adelbert Muhlschlegel; Appointed arm; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1957 19 Nov
    195-
    Nine Hands of the Cause were chosen by Rúhíyyih Khánum to examine Shoghi Effendi's apartment. [BW 13:341]
  • They were the five members of the International Bahá'í Council (Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Ugo Giachery and Leroy Ioas), an Afnán (Hasan Balyuzi), a representative of the Hands of the Western Hemisphere (Horace Holley), a representative of the Hands of the African continent (Músá Banání) and the Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh ('Alí Muhammad Varqá). [BW13:341]
  • After seeing that the seals were intact, the Hands examined the contents of Shoghi Effendi's safe and desk. [BW13:341]
  • The nine Hands signed a document testifying that no Will or Testament of any nature executed by Shoghi Effendi had been found. This was reported to the entire body of Hands assembled in the Mansion of Bahjí. [BW13:341]
  • See CB378–9 for an explanation of why Shoghi Effendi left no Will.
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; International Bahá'í Council; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Ugo Giachery; Leroy Ioas; Hasan Balyuzi; Horace Holley; Musa Banani; Varqá, `Alí-Muhammad; Haifa, Israel; Bahji, Israel
    1957 18–25 Nov
    195-
    The first conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God convened at Bahjí. Twenty-three Hands were present. [BBRSM128; DH215; MoC8–11, 25-51; TG158]
  • This was the first meeting of the Hands of the Cause as a group.
  • For a personal account of the Conclave by Hand of the Cause Zikrullah Khadem. see ZK119.
  • For the nature of the six Conclaves see MoC9–10, 12.
  • For picture see MoCiv.
  • Bahji, Israel; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Zikrullah Khadem; Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1957 18 Nov
    195-
    The Hands of the Cause conducted a memorial meeting for Shoghi Effendi in the Haram-i-Aqdas. [BW13:341; MoC35] - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Haram-i-Aqdas; Bahji, Israel; Akka, Israel
    1957 15 Nov
    195-
    Hands of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins and Leroy Ioas, accompanied by Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery, entered the apartment of Shoghi Effendi and sealed with tape and wax the safe where his important documents were kept as well as the drawers to his desk. [BW13:341]
  • The keys to the safe were placed in an envelope, which was sealed and signed by the five Hands and then placed in the safe of Leroy Ioas. BW13:341]
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Leroy Ioas; Ugo Giachery; Haifa, Israel
    1957 10 Nov
    195-
    The Hands of the Cause met in London. [TG157]
  • See SDSC191-195 and SDSC430 note 8 for excerpts from the transcript of the talk recorded in shorthand by Rose M Wade and given by Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum to the gathered Hands and other friends.
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; London, England; United Kingdom
    1957 9 Nov
    195-
    The funeral of Shoghi Effendi took place in the Great Northern Cemetery, London. [BW13:222; PP448]
  • See BW13:222 for details of the funeral service.
  • See BW13:222–5 and PP449–50 for a description of the funeral.
  • For an a account of the funeral see AY314-319.
  • The Resting Place is located at 51°37'21.85"N, 0°8'35.41" W.
  • Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; London, England; United Kingdom
    1957 4 Nov
    195-
    Passing of Shoghi Effendi

    Shoghi Effendi passed away in London of coronary thrombosis after a bout of Asian influenza. [CB377; PP446 BW13:207-225]

    • The 1957 influenza pandemic (the "Asian flu") was a category 2 flu pandemic outbreak of avian influenza that originated in China in early 1956 lasting until 1958. It originated from a mutation in wild ducks combining with a pre-existing human strain. A vaccine for H2N2 was introduced in 1957, and the pandemic slowed down. There was a second wave in 1958, and H2N2 went on to become part of the regular wave of seasonal flu. Estimates of worldwide deaths vary widely depending on the source, ranging from 1 million to 4 million, with WHO settling on "about two million". [Sino Biological website]
  • He was in London to purchase some furniture to complete the interior of the International Archives Building at the time of his passing. [PP445]
  • For a tribute to Shoghi Effendi written by Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum see BW13:58–226.]
      In it she lists four major aspects of his life: (Copied and arranged in point form here.)
    • "his translations of the Words of Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, Àbdu'l-Bahá and Nabil's Narrative;
    • his own writings such as the history of a century, published as God Passes By, as well as an uninterrupted stream of instructive communications from his pen which pointed out to the believer the significance, the time and the method of the building up of their administrative institutions;
    • an unremitting programme to expand and consolidate the material assets of a world-wide Faith, which not only involved the completion, erection or beautification of the Bahá'í Holy Places at the World Centre but the construction of Houses of Worship and the acquisition of national and local headquarters and endowments in various countries throughout the East and the West;
    • a masterly orientation of thought towards the concepts enshrined in the teachings of the Faith and the orderly classification of those teachings into what might well be described as a vast panoramic view of the meaning, implications, testing and purpose of the religion of Bahá'u'lláh, indeed of religious truth itself in its portrayal of man as the apogee of God's creation, evolving towards the consummation of his development-the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth." [PP226-227]
  • See also Rabbání, The Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith and The Priceless Pearl.
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; - Basic timeline, Condensed; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; Appointed arm; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Covenant; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; London, England; United Kingdom; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1957 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the appointment of a second Auxiliary Board responsible for the protection of the Faith. [MBW127–128; PP442] Auxiliary board members; Assistants; Appointed arm; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1957 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi called for the convocation of a series of Intercontinental Conferences to be held successively in Kampala, Uganda (Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Central and East Africa); Sydney, Australia (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia); Chicago, United States (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America,; Frankfurt, Germany (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany and: Austria); and Djakarta, Indonesia (Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South-East Asia). [BW13:311–12; MBW125]

    The five-fold purpose of the International Conferences was:

    1. offering humble thanksgiving to the Divine Author of our Faith, Who has graciously enabled His followers, during a period of deepening anxiety and amidst the confusion and uncertainties of a critical phase in the fortunes of mankind,
    2. to prosecute uninterruptedly the Ten-Year Plan formulated for the execution of the Grand Design conceived by 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
    3. of reviewing and celebrating the series of signal victories won so rapidly in the course of each of the campaigns of this world-encircling Crusade,
    4. of deliberating on ways and means that will insure its triumphant consummation,
    5. and of lending simultaneously a powerful impetus, the world over, to the vital process of individual conversion -the preeminent purpose underlying the Plan in all its ramifications - and to the construction and completion of the three Mother Temples to be built in the European, the African, and Australian continents. [CBN No 94 Nov 1957 p1]
    Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Bahá'í World Centre; Kampala, Uganda; Uganda; Sydney, Australia; Australia; Chicago, IL; United States (USA); Frankfurt, Germany; Germany; Jakarta, Indonesia; Indonesia
    1957 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi designated the Hands of the Cause the 'Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's embryonic World commonwealth'. [MBW127] - Hands of the Cause; - Hands of the Cause, Institution; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Appointed arm; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1957 Oct
    195-
    From a message from the Guardian dated October 1957
  • Number of Bahá'í Centres from 2500 to 4500
  • Number of sovereign States and Dependencies: from 128 to 254
  • Number of National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies; from 12 to 26
  • Number of Local Spiritual Assemblies; more than 1,000
  • Number of islands open to the Faith: 70
  • The erection and completion of the International Bahá'í Archives Building at a cost of $250M
  • The enlargement of the scope of Bahá'í international endowments in the twin cities of 'Akka and Haifa at a present value of $5.5m
  • The Bahá'í holdings in Iran estimated at over 40m tumans
  • The acquisition of 48 National Haziratu'l-Quds at more than $500
  • The founding of Bahá'í national endowments in no less than 50 capitals and chief cities on all five continents, at a cost of at least $150,000
  • The initiation of the construction of the Mother Temples of both Africa and Australia
  • The purchase of 11 Temple sites for over $400,000
  • The incorporation of over 90 national and local Spiritual assemblies raising the global total to over 200
  • The translation of Bahá'í literature into 148 languages bringing the total to 237
  • Statistics; Endowments; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1957 Oct
    195-
    The third contingent of Hands of the Cause of God was appointed: Enoch Olinga, William Sears, John Robarts, Hasan Balyuzi, John Ferraby, Collis Featherstone, Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir and Abu'l-Qásim Faizí. [GBF111; MBW127; PP254, 442; SS47]
  • See TG160 for the story of how Enoch Olinga reacted to the news of being appointed a Hand of the Cause of God.
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Contingents; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent; Enoch Olinga; William Sears; John Robarts; Hasan Balyuzi; John Ferraby; Collis Featherstone; Rahmatullah Muhajir; Abu'l-Qasim Faizi; Haifa, Israel
    1957 28 - 30 Sep
    195-
    First Bahá'í Summer School held in Taiwan. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p21] Summer schools; First summer and winter schools; Taiwan first Bahá'í Summer School held in Taiwan
    1957 6 Sep
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced 'the complete evacuation of the remnant of Covenant-breakers and the transfer of all their belongings from the precincts of the Most Holy Shrine'. [MBW124]
  • See VSE166 for Audrey Robarts' observation of the Covenant-breakers at Bahjí during her pilgrimage in 1955.
  • Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breaking; Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1957 27 Jul
    195-
    In July, 1957 the sacred remains of Mirzá Buzurg, the father of Bahá'u'lláh, were identified and removed to a Bahá'í cemetery. On July 27 of that year, Hands of the Cause 'Ali Akbar Furfltan, Shu'é'u'llah 'Alá'í and 'Ali Muhammad Varqa arrived from Ṭihrán to join Hand of the Cause Tarézu'lláh Samandari in paying homage, on behalf of the Guardian, to the memory of that "blessed and highly revered personage." [BW13p297 ] Mírzá Buzurg; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
    1957 18 Jul
    195-
    It was reported in the Canadian Bahá'í News, based on the Guardian's message of the 18th of July, that the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran had the intention of publishing a newsletter every 60 days. The publication was to be sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies as well as their local communities. They reported that:
  • The Faith had been established in more than 1060 centres in Iran, this was up from 750 when the persecutions started in 1955.
  • They reported that the persecutions were gradually subsiding. The government agreed to return the Haziratu'l-Quds and the National Hazira to the Bahá'is under the proviso that no meetings be held in the buildings.
  • They disseminate the news of the victories in other parts of the world to all the communities in Iran.
  • They said, "One fortunate circumstance that compensates for all the persecution of the Friends in Iran is the constant communication with the World Centre of the Cause of God and the Beloved Guardian.
  • The Friends are going on pilgrimage and upon their return shared the messages and news from the Holy Land. There were 64 pilgrims in the year 113.
  • Since the National Spiritual Assembly was responsible for the administration of the Faith in Turkey, the Turkish pilgrims have been providing the Iranians with their messages and glad-tidings. There were 32 pilgrims from Turkey the previous year. [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p5]
  • * Persecution, Iran; Statistics; Iran
    1957 Jul
    195-
    Margaret Bates and her daughter Jean Frankel of the United States arrived in the Nicobar Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454; PH63] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
    1957 9 Jun
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States designated the second Sunday in June as Race Unity Day. The purpose of Race Unity Day is to promote racial harmony and understanding and to focus attention on racial prejudice, which Bahá'ís believe is the most challenging moral issue facing our nation. Since then, communities throughout the country have held celebrations, open to the public, every year on the second Sunday in June. [Race Unity Day by Christopher Buck published in Religious Celebrations, pages 727-732] Race Unity Day; United States (USA)
    1957 8 – 21 Jun
    195-
    Hokkaido Island was opened to the Faith by Rouhollah Mumtazi and Gekie Nakajima with the enrolment of new believers Kinkichi Shimatani and Yoshiro Sasaki of Sapporo, Japan. Hokkaido Island, Japan; Japan first Bahá'í on Hokkaido Island
    1957 4 Jun
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi added protection of the Cause to the duties of the Hands of the Cause. They were to perform this function in collaboration with the national spiritual assemblies. [BBRSM127; CB380; MBW122–3; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p3] - Hands of the Cause; - Hands of the Cause, Institution; Protection; Appointed arm; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1957 Jun
    195-
    The Covenant-breakers completely abandoned Bahjí. [CB367–9; DH215; MBW120–2; PP233–4] Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breaking; Akka, Israel
    1957 31 May
    195-
    The judgement of the Supreme Court of Israel against the Covenant-Breakers appeal, resulted in their removal from the properties in Bahjí. Covenant-breaking; Bahji, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1957 7 May
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi sent a fragment of the plaster from the room of the Báb in the Fortress of Máh-Kú to Australia to be set in the foundations of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Sydney. [LANZ134; SBR172] * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Sydney; Fortress of Mah-Ku, Iran; Gifts; Relics; Boxes containing dust, earth or plaster; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Sydney, Australia; Australia
    1957 May
    195-
    Pouva Murday of Mauritius arrived in the Chagos Archipelago and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Chagos Archipelago
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula was established at the first National Convention of Arabia which was held in Manama, Bahrain. [BWIM249]

    By 1962, the regions with Bahá'í communities under the Assembly's jurisdiction were the Aden Protectorate, Bahrain, Hijaz, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. [BW13p955]

  • From 1962 until 30 November 1967, British administered the Aden Protectorate in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The constituent territories were the following: Aden (including the city of Aden and its surrounding areas), Hadhramaut, Mahra, Upper Aulaqi Sultanate, Lower Aulaqi Sultanate, Dhala, Fadhli Sultanate, and Beihan. It was known as the Federation of South Arabia and it was to become, for the most part, The Peoples Republic of South Yemen.
  • Prior to their unification on the 22 of May, 1990. North Yemen, (the Yemen Arab Republic), and South Yemen, (the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen), existed as separate countries with distinct political systems.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Aden Protectorate; Manama, Bahrain; Bahrain; Yemen; Arabian Peninsula
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Brunei had already been formed. [BW 13:302] Local Spiritual Assembly; Brunei first Local Spiritual Assembly Brunei
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Apia, Western Samoa was formed. The members were: Lilian Ala'i, Ghodsieh Ala'i, Nemat Ala'i, To'alima Sa'ialala, Lotoa Rock, Emanuel Rock, William I Laing, Sa'ialala Tamasese, and Suhayl A Ala'i. [CBN No99 April, 1958 p5] Local Spiritual Assembly; Lilian Alai; Ghodsieh Alai; Nemat Alai; Toalima Saialala; Lotoa Rock; Emanuel Rock; William I Laing; Saialala Tamasese; Suhayl A Alai; Apia, Samoa; Samoa first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Apia
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canberra, the last capital city in Australia to form. Local Spiritual Assembly; Canberra, Australia; Australia first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canberra
    1957 - 1963
    195-
    The launch of the Northeast Asia Six Year Plan (1957-1963)

    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia had an area of jurisdiction embracing Japan, Korea, Formosa, Macao, Hong Kong, Hainan Island, and Sakhalin Island. [JTA80-86]

    - Teaching Plans; Northeast Asia Six Year Plan; Japan; Korea; Taiwan; Macau; Hong Kong; Hainan Island, China; Sakhalin Island
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    In his last Ridván message Shoghi Effendi announced that the exterior of International Bahá'í Archives had been completed and that the roof was in place. [VBHP38; DH169; GBF63–4; PP264–6]
      It had cost approximately a quarter of a million dollars and was, like the Shrine of the Báb, ordered in Italy, entirely carved and completed there, and shipped to Haifa for erection; not only was each separate stone numbered, but charts showing where each on went facilitated its being place in its proper position." [PP265]
  • Ugo Giachery supervised the work in Italy and Leroy Ioas in Haifa. Because the landscaping had been completed prior to the completion of the construction, it had to be built from the rear with only a space of about 5 metres on three sides to work in. [PP265]
  • For details of its construction and photographs see BW13:403–33.
  • - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; Leroy Ioas; Ugo Giachery; - Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Nyasaland was formed at Lilongwe. Local Spiritual Assembly; Lilongwe, Malawi; Malawi first Local Spiritual Assembly Nyasaland
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Cape Verde was formed in Praia. Local Spiritual Assembly; Praia, Cape Verde; Cape Verde first Local Spiritual Assembly Cape Verde
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula with its seat in Bahrayn (Bahrain). [BW15p296]
  • The area was altered in 1972 for the formation of two National Spiritual Assemblies, Eastern Arabian and Kuwait. [BW15p297]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) plus Denmark and Finland was formed with its seat in Stockholm, Sweden. [BW13:274] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Stockholm, Sweden; Sweden first NSA Scandinavia and Finland
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska was formed and incorporated immediately upon formation. [HE31]
  • This was the first time a political entity (i.e. the United States) was subdivided to form a national spiritual assembly. [BW13:270]
  • In 1927 the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada resolved, in their Declaration of Trust and By-law of the National Spiritual Assembly, to exclude Alaska and Hawaii and all United States trusts and territories including Puerto Rico from their jurisdiction. [Constitution of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States]
  • Picture.
  • Incorporation; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Alaska, USA; United States (USA) first NSA Alaska; first time a political entity subdivided to form NSA
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand formed separate National Assemblies. [BW13p306]
  • Since 1934 they were part of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; New Zealand first NSA New Zealand
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Pakistan was formed with its first National Convention in Karachi. Previously it was administered by the Regional Assembly of India, Pakistán and Burma. The "mother assembly" reverted by to its former name, The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India and Burma and was so until 1959. [BW13p299]
  • On May 28th the Assembly was incorporated. [BW13p300]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Karachi, Pakistan; Pakistan first NSA Pakistan
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia was formed with its seat in Djakarta. [BW13:289,302]
  • Its area of jurisdiction was Borneo, Indo-China, Indonesia, Malaya, Sarawak, Siam, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Philippines, Dutch New Guinea, Mentawai Islands, Cocos Islands, Portuguese Timor and Brunei.
  • A subsidiary Six-Year Plan was formed. [BW13:302]
  • This assembly was dissolved in 1964. [BW14p99]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Jakarta, Indonesia; Indonesia first NSA South East Asia
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia was formed with its seat in Tokyo, Japan. [BW13:304]
  • Its area of jurisdiction was Japan, Korea, Formosa, Macau, Hong Kong, Hainan Island and Sakhalin Island.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Northeast Asia; Tokyo, Japan; Japan first NSA North East Asia
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Greater Antilles was formed with its seat in Kingston, Jamaica The Assembly was disbanded in 1961 when individual National Assemblies were formed for the constituent countries.. [BW13:257]
  • The countries involved: Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic [BN No 312 p7]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Kingston, ON; Jamaica first NSA Greater Antilles
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela was formed at Lima, Peru. [BW13:257]
  • Prior to this time, since 1951 it had been administer by the National Spiritual Assembly of South America. [Bahaipedia NSA; South America]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Lima, Peru; Peru first NSA Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia was formed at Buenos Aires, Argentina. [BW13:257]
  • Prior to this time, since 1951 it had been administer by the National Spiritual Assembly of South America. [Bahaipedia NSA; South America]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Argentina; Chile; Uruguay; Paraguay; Bolivia first NSA Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Mexico and the Republics of Central America was formed at Panama City, Panama. [BW13:257]
  • The countries involved were: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Mexico; Panama; Costa Rica; Nicaragua; Honduras; El Salvador; Guatemala first NSA Mexico and the Republics of Central America
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly for the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) was formed with its seat in Madrid, Spain. [BW13:274]
  • The Assembly was disbanded in 1962 when Spain and Portugal established independent National Assemblies.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Madrid, Spain; Spain; Portugal first NSA Iberian Peninsula
    1957 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries was formed with its seat in Brussels, Belgium. [BW13:274]
  • Its area of jurisdiction was Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Brussels, Belgium; Belgium; Netherlands; Luxembourg; Benelux, Europe first NSA Benelux Countries
    1957 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the Treasury Department of Israel had issued an expropriation order for the remaining property held by Covenant-breakers at Bahjí, mainly the dilapidated building north of the mansion. [MBW109] Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breaking; Akka, Israel
    1957 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the Faith had been established in 251 countries, that there were more than a thousand local spiritual assemblies, that Bahá'ís lived in more than 4,200 localities, and that every territory mentioned in the Tablets of the Divine Plan had been opened to the Faith. Bahá'í literature had been translated into 230 languages. [MBW105–6] Statistics; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Works of
    1957 c. Apr - 1958 Apr
    195-
    The first Tuareg to become a Bahá'í enrolled in Rabat, Morocco. - First believers by background; Rabát, Morocco; Morocco first Tuareg Bahá’í
    1957 27 Mar
    195-
    Agnes Alexander was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God on the passing of Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend. [GBF112; MBW174; PP255] Agnes Alexander; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; George Townshend
    1957 25 Mar
    195-
    Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend passed away in Dublin, Ireland. (b.14 June, 1896) [BBD226, BW02-03p169]
  • For his obituary see BW13:841–846.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • His pamphlet entitled The Old Churches and the New World Faith was his statement upon severing his relationship with his colleagues in the Anglican Church. [CBN No 89 June 1957 p1]
  • A talk given by O.Z. (Zebby) Whitehead at an Irish Bahá'í Summer School.
  • See The Covenant: An Analysis, a study guide on the idea of a covenant, Messengers and their missions, the covenant between the Messenger and the faithful, and covenant-breaking. Includes an appendix, compilation on the covenant. It was published in Manchester in 1950.
  • See his essay The Way of the Master.
  • Christ and Bahá'u'lláh was published by George Ronald in 1957. Also published by George Ronald were: Àbdu'l-Bahá - The Master, Mission of Baha'u'llah - Essays, Poems and Meditations, of One Who was Appointed a Hand of the Cause, Promise of All Ages - A Classic Description of the Baha'i Faith, and The Heart of the Gospel - The Story of the Spiritual Evolution of Humanity Using Bible Texts.
  • See George Townshend - Biography from Church Canon to Hand of the Cause of God by David Hofman.
  • See Shoghi Effendi: The Range and Power of His Pen by 'Ai Nakhjavani p83 for his contribution in assisting Shogh Effendi with his translation work.
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Births and deaths; George Townshend; - In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Dublin, Ireland; Ireland
    1957 3 Feb
    195-
    Enoch Olinga arrived in the Holy Land, the first black African Bahá'í to go on pilgrimage. [BW13p288] Enoch Olinga; - First pilgrims; Pilgrims; Haifa, Israel first black African Bahá’í on pilgrimage.
    1957 1 Jan
    195-
    In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian it was state that there were no Bahá'ís in the republics of the Soviet Union.
      Republics of Russia with no Bahá'ís: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Ukraine, and White Russia (Belarus)
      Satellite countries with no Bahá'ís: Albania Roumania (Romania) Mongolia, Sakhalin Island, and Hainan Island. [1 January 1957]
    Statistics; Soviet Union
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The publication of The Secret of Divine Civilization by 'Abdu'l-Bahá as translated by Marzieh Gail in Wilmette Il by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust. It was earlier translated as The Mysterious Forces of Civilization by another translator, this was 'Abdu'l-Bahá's message to the government, clergy and people of Iran on the requirements of true civilization. It applies as well to the present as mankind's traditional political and social philosophies have shown themselves incapable of renewing human civilization. [Collins3-107 p13]
  • See Bahá'í-library.org for documents related to the work by 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; Marzieh Gail; Wilmette, IL; Illinois, USA; United States (USA)
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The land for the future Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Langenhain was acquired. [from the pamphlet "First European Bahá'í House of Worship" published by the NSA of Germany] Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Langenhain; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Langenhain, Germany; Germany
    1957 c.
    195-
    The first local person to become a Bahá'í in Cambodia, Mr Lim Incchin, a young Chinese, enrolled. [Servants of the Glory page23]
  • The country was first settled by two pioneers one of whom was a Professor Avaregan. [Servants of the Glory page21]
  • Lim Incchin; Professor Avaregan; Cambodia first Bahá’í in Cambodia
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    Nagoya, Japan, became the only spiritual assembly to be made up entirely of Japanese believers. Local Spiritual Assembly; Nagoya, Japan; Japan first Local Spiritual Assembly all Japanese
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'í activity in Czechoslovakia was banned by the authorities, several members of the Prague community were arrested and Vuk Echtner was imprisoned for two years. [BW20p196] Persecution, Czechoslovakia; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; Prague, Czech Republic; Czech Republic
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The Berbers in Algeria were first contacted by the Bahá'ís and a number of Berber families enrolled. - First believers by background; Berbers (people); Algeria first Berber Bahá'ís
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    Charles Winfield Small, a native of Barbados and the first to become a Bahá'í in the Bahamas, returned to Barbados, the first Bahá'í to settle in the country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Barbados; Central America first Bahá’í in the Bahamas; first Bahá’í to settle in Barbados
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The first member of the Newari ethnic group of Nepal to become a Bahá'í, Rishi Prasad Joshi, enrolled. - First believers by background; Nepal first Newari Bahá'í of Nepal
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in the Dutch West Indies, Rhoma Matthew enrolled. - First believers by background; Lesser Antilles first indigenous Bahá’í in the Dutch West Indies
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    The first contacts with the Aboriginal people were made in Kampong Jus in Malacca by Saurajen, as reported at a special meeting held with Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. Muhajir in Malacca on 29 December 1957. [Jewel Among Nations, Splendour Publications, Author A. Manisegaran. Pages 221-222] Rahmatullah Muhajir; G. Saurajen; - Aboriginal people; Firsts, other; Selandar, Malaysia; Malacca, Malaysia; Malaysia first contact with aboriginal population of Malayan peninsula
    1956 20 Dec
    195-
    The publication in the Official Gazette of the government of Israel of the issue of an expropriation order against the Covenant-Breakers in possession of the holy Shrines at Bahji. This order was immediately appealed by the Covenant-Breakers to the Supreme Court. Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breaking; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1956 9 Dec
    195-
    The passing of Juliet Thompson (b. Washington, DC 1873 - d. December 9th, 1956 New York). [BW13:862-864]
  • For her memorial service at the House of Worship see Bahá'í News p475, 493.
  • After learning of the Bahá'í Faith in Washington DC near 1898 she traveled to Paris at the invitation of Laura Dreyfus-Barney's mother. Later in 1901 in Paris she met Thomas Breakwell, who gave her Arthur de Gobineau's description in French of the Execution of the Báb which confirmed her faith. In Paris she took classes on the religion from Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl. [Wiki]
  • She published her book I, Mary Magdalene in 1940. It is available at bahai-library.com/. The Diary of Juliet Thompson was published by Kalimat Press in 1983 from her 1947 typescript.
  • The restoration of Juliet's grave took place on December 5, 2010. After a 54 year delay, the new gravestone, commissioned by the NSA, was unveiled in the Beechwood Cemetery in New Rochelle, New York, engraved with this moving tribute from Shoghi Effendi:

    "Deplore loss of much-loved, greatly admired Juliet Thompson, outstanding, exemplary handmaid of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Over half-century record of manifold, meritorious services, embracing the concluding years of Heroic and opening decades of Formative Ages of Bahá'í Dispensation, won her enviable position in the glorious company of triumphant disciples of the beloved Master in the Abha Kingdom. Advise hold memorial gathering in Mashriqu'l-Adhkar to pay befitting tribute to the imperishable memory of one so wholly consecrated to the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, and fired with such consuming devotion to the Center of His Covenant."

    [December 6, 1956] (Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 170)

  • Juliet Thompson; - In Memoriam; Restoration; New Rochelle, NY; New York, USA
    1956 Dec
    195-
    It was announced that Mr Ugo Giachery, Mr Navidi, Mr John Ferraby, Mrs Mildred Mottahedeh and Mr Amin Banani had been appointed to an international committee to represent the Bahá'í International Community in relation to the United Nations in matters connect with the persecution of the Bahá'ís of Persia. [CBN No 83 December, 1956 p2] Ugo Giachery; Aziz Navidi; John Ferraby; Mildred Mottahedeh; Amin Banani; Bahá'í International Community; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1956 11 - 12 Nov
    195-
    First All-Taiwan Teaching Conference was held in Tainan, Taiwan. The conference was attended by then Auxiliary Board Member Agnes Alexander from Japan. She would visit Taiwan two more times, in 1958 and 1962-as a Hand of the Cause. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p17] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; Teaching; - First conferences; Agnes Alexander; Auxiliary board members; Tainan, Taiwan; Taiwan first Teaching Conference held in Taiwan
    1956 21 Jul
    195-
    As a result of the intervention of the UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold in July of 1955, promises were given by the Iranian government officials that the persecutions would cease however, that was not the case. The Bahá'í International Community, as an accredited member of the Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations, sent delegates to Geneva to attend the meetings of the Economic and Social Council and to present the Bahá'í case to the sub-Committee on the Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. At Geneva the Bahá'í representatives met a number of delegates to the Economic and Social Council enlisting their sympathy in the case and requesting them to inform their Foreign Offices. Following a news conference held by the Bahá'í representatives a full story appeared in the New YorkTimes of July 21, 1956. [CBN No 81 October 1956 p1-2] * Persecution, Iran; Iran
    1956 20 May
    195-
    Louisa Mathew Gregory, (b. 1 February 1866 in Penge, Kent, England) whose wedding to Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory in 1912 was the first interracial western Bahá'í marriage, passed away in Eliot, Maine. [BW13:878; SYH19, 239]
  • She had been introduced to the Faith by Edith Sanderson in Paris in about December of 1909. Edith had been taught by May Maxwell in 1902. [SYH5, 206]
  • For her obituary see BW13:376–8. Error in this article
    • There was no Bahá'í Congress in Prague in 1928
    • She did not attend Cambridge but rather the examination for her credentials were administered by Cambridge.
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not attend her marriage on the 27 September 1912. He was in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. [SYHvii-viii; 28]
  • Her biography, A Seed in Your Heart - The Life of Louise Mathew Gregory by Janet Fleming Rose was published by George Ronald in 2018.
  • See a brief biography in The Bahá'í Community of the British Isles 1844-1963 p462-464 and for the story of his learning of the Faith, p453-454
  • Louisa Mathew Gregory; Louise Gregory; Edith Sanderson; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Births and deaths; Firsts, other; Eliot, ME; Maine, USA; United States (USA); Penge, England; Kent, England first interracial western Bahá’í marriage
    1956 May
    195-
    Mary Zabolotny (later Mrs Ken McCulloch), of Ukrainian background, arrived on Anticosti Island, Canada, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mary Zabolotny McCulloch; - Islands; Anticosti Island, QC; Canada
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    After their pilgrimage Harlan and Elizabeth Ober travelled to South Africa where they helped form the first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly in Pretoria as had previously been request of them by the Guardian. They returned in December as pioneers. [BW13869] Harlan Ober; Elizabeth Kidder Ober; Pioneers; Haifa, Israel; Pretoria, South Africa first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Taiwan was formed in Tainan. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p15] Local Spiritual Assembly; Tainan, Taiwan; Taiwan first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Tainan, Taiwan
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    Formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guam. Local Spiritual Assembly; Guam first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guam.
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The local spiritual assembly of Addis Ababa incorporated, the first one in Africa to do so. [BW13:287] Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia first Local Spiritual Assembly to incorporate in Africa
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly of Hong Kong was formed. Local Spiritual Assembly; Hong Kong first Local Spiritual Assembly Hong Kong
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    With the enrolment of the first Micronesian Bahá'í, the first local spiritual assembly of Guam was formed. Local Spiritual Assembly; Guam first Local Spiritual Assembly Guam
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assemblies in Korea were formed at Seoul and at Kwangju. Local Spiritual Assembly; Seoul, South Korea; Gwangju, South Korea; Korea first Local Spiritual Assemblies Korea
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Bermuda was formed. Local Spiritual Assembly; Bermuda firstLocal Spiritual Assembly Bermuda
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    In his message to the four African Conventions for the National Spiritual Assemblies of Central and East Africa, North East Africa, North-West Africa, and South and West Africa, the Guardian announced that there were "over three thousand avowed supporters, five-sixths of whom belong to the Negro race, scattered throughout more than fifty territories and islands, and residing in over four hundred localities. Representatives of no less than one hundred and forty of its tribes have, moreover, enlisted under the banner of the Faith. Over a hundred and twenty Bahá'í Local Assemblies are already functioning throughout its territories. Into more than fifty of its indigenous languages Bahá'í literature has been and is being translated. The process of incorporating the newly formed Local Assemblies has furthermore been inaugurated. A National Administrative Headquarters has been established in each one of its four pivotal centres, while three Temple sites situated within its confines have been recently purchased, on one of which the Mother Temple of Africa is soon to be erected." [That Promising Continent 24-26] Statistics; - Africa
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa was formed by expanding the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and Sudan. [BW13:284]
  • Its area of jurisdiction now included Egypt, Sudan, Abyssinia, Libya, Eritrea, British, French and Italian Somaliland and Socotra Island.
  • From this date forward all African territories originally allocated to the United States, the Persian, the Egyptian, the Indian, and the British National Spiritual Assemblies became, in the course of the Ten-Year Plan, to benefit from the advantages of sustained assistance by these Assemblies Spiritual Assemblies. [MBW71-72]
  • Since 1956 National Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa had been led by the former National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and the Sudan. In 1960 difficulties in Egypt made it impossible to administer territories outside of Egypt a regional administrative committee was formed and this, in turn, was replaced with a new (regional) National Spiritual Assembly with its headquarters in Addis Abba. [BW13p287]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Egypt; Libya; Sudan; Eritrea; French Somaliland; Djibouti, East Africa; Italian Somaliland; Ethiopia; Socotra Island; British Somaliland; Abyssinia; Eritrea first Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly was formed in Morocco (International Zone). Local Spiritual Assembly; Morocco first Local Spiritual Assembly Morocco
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North West Africa was formed with its seat in Tunis, Tunisia. [BW13:284]
  • Its area of jurisdiction was Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco (International Zone), Spanish Morocco, French Morocco, Rio de Oro, Spanish Sahara, French West Africa, Gambia, Portuguese Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gold Coast, Ashanti Protectorate, British Togoland, French Togoland, Nigeria, British Cameroons, French Cameroons, Northern Territories Protectorate, Spanish Guinea, St Thomas Island, Cape Verde Islands, Canary Islands and Madeira. [MBW71-72]
  • See the Guardian's message to this Assembly. [That Promising Continent 27, 32]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Tunis, Tunisia; Tunisia first Regional Spiritual Assembly of North West Africa
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa was formed with its seat in Kampala, Uganda. [BW13:284; MBW71-72]
  • Its area of jurisdiction was Uganda, Tanganyika, Kenya, Belgian Congo, Ruanda-Urundi, French Equatorial Africa, Zanzibar, Comoro Islands and Seychelles Islands. See the Guardian's message to this Assembly. [That Promising Continent 30]
  • Ali Nakhjavani, Hassan Sabri, Philip Hainsworth, Oloro Epyeruj, Jalal Nakhjavani, Aziz Yazdi, Tito Wanantsusit, Max Kenyerezi, and Sylvester Okurut were members of the first regional national assembly. [History of the Bahá'í Faith in Tanzania]
  • This regional assembly was dissolved at Ridván 1964. [BW14p96]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Kampala, Uganda; Uganda first Regional Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    The Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa was formed with its seat in Johannesburg, South Africa. The National Convention was held at the Sears farm. Those elected to serve were: John Allen, Festus Chembeni, Walter Dlamini, William Masehla, Robert Miller, Andrew Mofokeng, John Robarts, William Sears and Max Seepe. In January 1957 Walter Dlamini resigned and Marguerite Sears was elected to replace him. [BW13:284; MBW71-72; BN no608 November 1981 p11]
  • Its area of jurisdiction was the Union of South Africa, Basutoland, Zululand, Swaziland, Bechuanaland, South West Africa, Angola, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Mozambique, Madagascar, Réunion Island, Mauritius and St Helena Island. See the Guardian's message to this Assembly. [That Promising Continent 28-29]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Johannesburg, South Africa; South Africa first Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa
    1956 7 Apr
    195-
    The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in Micronesia, 22-year-old Joe Erie Ilengelkei from Palau, Caroline Islands, enrolled. Joe Erie Ilengelkei; Palau; Caroline Islands first indigenous Bahá’í in Micronesia
    1956 Apr
    195-
    The publication of Ade-rih-wa-nie-ton On-kwe-on-we Neh-ha: A Message to the Iroquois Indians in the Canadian Bahá'í News. This pamphlet was translated to the Mohawk language by Mr. Charles Cooke of Ottawa and there is reason to believe the translation was commissioned by the Québec Regional Teaching Committee. [Letter from the National Spiritual Assembly to Dr. C Buck 6 January 2021; CBN No69 Oct 1955 p4; CBN 45 April 1956 p.11]
  • See Deganawida, the Peacemaker by Dr Christopher Buck published in American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies Supplement XXVI (2015)
  • See as well Native Messengers of God in Canada?: A Test Case for Bahá'í Universalism by Christopher Buck published in Bahá'í Studies Review, 6, pages 97-133 London: Association for Bahá'í Studies English-Speaking Europe, 1996. Also Native Messengers of God in Canada? A test case for Bahá'í universalism, by Christopher Buck:Commentary by William P. Collins.
  • Also of interest on the same subject is his article Dr. David Ruhe's Tribute to Indigenous Messengers of God.
  • See as well Messengers of God in North America, Revisited: An Exegesis of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to Amír Khán by Christopher Buck and Donald Addison.
  • For information about the Tablet to Amír Khán see Tablet to Amir Khan and Tablet of the Holy Mariner by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice.
  • Bahá'í Universalism and Native Prophets by Christopher Buck.
  • See the series Indigenous Messengers of God.
  • - Indigenous Messengers of God; Iroquois; Native Americans; Canada
    1956 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the extension to Egyptian Bahá'í women of the right to be elected to the National Spiritual Assembly and to participate in the national convention. [MBW96–7] National Spiritual Assembly, women; Women; Equality; - Middle East; Egypt
    1956 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the Bahá'í Faith was established in 247 countries, in 3,700 localities and that there were more than 900 local spiritual assemblies, of which 168 were incorporated. Bahá'í literature had been translated into 190 languages. [MBW92–3] Statistics
    1956 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the remaining 22 pillars of the International Bahá'í Archives had been erected and that the last half of the 900 tons of marble from Italy had been delivered. Forty-four tons of glazed green tiles from Utrecht had been placed in position. [MBW108]
    He also announced that:
  • the dilapidated house located near the Mansion had been restored,
  • Negotiations were underway with the Development Authority of the State of Israel for the acquisition of two plots to the north and south of the Shrine.
  • the destruction of a row of sheds near the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh,
  • that an expropriation order had been published in the Israel Official Gazette related to the buildings enclosed within the Haram-i-Aqdas regarding the occupancy of these buildings of the Covenant-breakers. [MBW108-109]
  • Haram-i-Aqdas; Covenant-breaking; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tea House of (Bajji); - Bahá'í World Centre; Bahji, Israel; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1956 9 Mar
    195-
    The passing of Albert R Windust (b. 28 March 1874 in Chicago) in Berrien County, Michigan. He was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Chicago.

    Albert, in spite of his meagre education, was a deep student of the Writings, an able speaker, and a profound teacher of the Laws and Ordinances. His classes on the Covenant and Bahá'í Administration were most helpful both to newcomers and Bahá'ís of long association with the Faith. There was a freshness and vigor in his teaching; he radiated a love that reached the hearts. In his every-day life he demonstrated the power of the revealed Word of Bahá'u'lláh.

      "Deeply grieved passing much loved greatly admired staunch ardent promoter Faith, Albert Windust, Herald Covenant, whose notable services Heroic Formative Ages Faith unforgettable. Assure friends relatives fervently supplicating progress soul Kingdom." – Shoghi [BW13p873-874
    ]

    At the age of fourteen Albert became an apprentice in the printing firm where his father worked. Later he became the first publisher of the Writings of the Faith in America. He printed booklets, early editions of prayers, and the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh (16 March 1900 BFA2p25). In 1910 he founded and started printing the first Bahá'í monthly publication, Star of the West. He gathered and published the well-known three volumes of Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá from Tablets written to the Bahá'ís in North America. He also assisted Howard MacNutt in publishing Promulgation of Universal Peace. Albert also helped in the compilation and publication of the first five volumes of The Bahá'í World for the years 1926 to 1934.

    When his father died on May 21st, 1913 Albert wrote to 'Abdu'l-Bahá and asked Him to pray for him. 'Abdu'l-Bahá responded by sending a Tablet with a prayer. It was published in SoW Vol 11 Issue 19 p219 and has been printed in Spiritual Strength for Men p82-83 published by Kalimat Press and in Family Worship p66 compiled by Wendi Momen and published by George Ronald.

  • See also Prayer for Fathers by 'Abdu'l-Bahá as translated by Ahmad Sohrab.
  • - In Memoriam; Albert Windust; Chicago, IL
    1956 (Early)
    195-
    In early 1956, Rudolfo Duna, his wife Angelica, and eleven year old daughter Julia, early Mozambican Bahá'ís, undertook the arduous train journey from Johannesburg, South Africa to Luanda, Angola, covering over 5,000 kilometers. Within a week after their arrival in Luanda, a community large enough to establish a Local Spiritual Assembly was formed.

    Another example of a new African believer arising was the case of Dorothy Chivunda in Zambia. When word of the Faith reached the church Dorothy attended, it aroused the curiosity of the congregation. The church decided to send Dorothy to investigate the claims of this new religion. Within three weeks, she declared as a Bahá'í, promptly organizing a teaching trip to her native village in Kawiku, in Chibwakata area of North Western Province. This trip, and the others that followed, involved over 300 kilometers of travel over rough terrain. It set in motion a process that would lead to the enrolment of thousands of her fellow tribesmen, the Lunda of Zambia, into the Faith.

    [A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p3]

    Pioneering; Rudolfo Duna; Angelica Duna; Julia Duna; Dorothy Chivunda; Luanda, Angola; Angola
    1956 25 Feb
    195-
    Husayn Uskuli, (b. 1875) long-time pioneer to Shanghai from 'Ishqábád, passed away in Shanghai at the age of 82 and was buried in the Kiangwan Cemetery in Shanghai. [PH29, BW13p871-873]
  • He had heard about the Faith at the age of 18 from Mírzá Haydar-'Alí. After his marriage he moved to 'Ishqábád where he was very active in the community. After his move to Shanghai his home was the centre of activity and hospitality for all those passing through. He was the only foreign-born Bahá'í to remain in China after the regime change. The xenophobic attitude of the government precluded any meaningful contact with the local citizenry.
  • He was survived by four daughters and a son.
  • Husayn Uskuli; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Ashgabat; Turkmenistan; Shanghai, China; China
    1956 21 Feb
    195-
    The first Bahá'í pioneer, Marguerite Allman, (later Miners), formerly of Hamilton and her pioneer post in the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii), arrived in 1956. She taught the second Icelandic Bahá'í, Erica Petursson. [BN No 487 October 1971 p20; BN303 May 1956 p13] Pioneer; Reykjavik, Iceland; Iceland; Hamilton, ON
    1956 12 Feb
    195-
    The first four people to become Bahá'ís in Hong Kong, Nari Sherwani, Ng Ying Kay, Chan Lie Kun and Chan Lie Fun, enrolled. [PH75] - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Hong Kong first four Bahá’ís in Hong Kong
    1956 Jan
    195-
    The first Bahá'í pioneer in what is now the Central African Republic, Samson Nkeng, arrived in Bangui from the British Cameroons1 Samson Nkeng; Pioneer; Central African Republic first pioneer in Central African Republic
    1956 c.
    195-
    The first person in Tibet to become a Bahá'í, Chiten Tashi, a young businessman from the village of Chombethan, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Tibet first Bahá'í in Tibet
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    A Roman Catholic priest lodged a complaint against the Bahá'ís of Morocco with the Moroccan Security Service. Persecution, Morocco; Morocco
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    Kedarnath Pradhan, from neighbouring Sikkim, arrived in Nepal, the first pioneer to the country. [Bahá'í Faith In Nepal by Prof. Anil Sarwal] - First travel teachers and pioneers; Nepal; Sikkim, India; India first pioneer to Nepal
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in New Guinea, Apelis Mazakmat, a school teacher and member of the local government council, enrolled. Apelis Mazakmat; New Guinea first indigenous Bahá’í in New Guinea
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    The first people to become Bahá'ís in Cape Verde enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Islands; Cape Verde first Bahá’ís in Cape Verde
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    The first Tlinget to become a Bahá'í in Alaska, Joyce Anderson Combs, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Alaska, USA; United States (USA) first Tlinget Bahá’í in Alaska
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in Dutch Guiana (Suriname), George van Axel Dongen, enrolled. George van Axel Dongen; Dutch Guiana (Suriname); Suriname first indigenous Bahá’í in Dutch Guiana (Suriname)
    c. 1956
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi acquired the title to the Pilgrim House at Bahjí from the Israeli government as part of the exchange for the Bahá'í properties at Ein Gev. [BBD177; DH226] Pilgrim house, Bahji; Pilgrim Houses; Purchases and exchanges; Bahji, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    The publication of Religion for Mankind by Horace Holley. There were subsequent publications by George Ronald in 1966, 1969, and 1976 and the Bahá'í Publishing Trust in Wilmette and a printing in 1967. It was transcribed into braille in 1970. [Collins7.1222-7.1226; 8.100]
  • "A collection of cogent essays on several aspects of the Bahá'í social programme and the dynamic of community and administrative life. [Collins7.1222]
  • Horace Holley; * Publications
    1955 Dec
    195-
    The first Samoan woman to become a Bahá'í, Mrs Lotoa Refiti (later Lotoa Rock), enrolled. [Koala News, No. 22, February 1956] Lotoa Refiti; Samoa first Samoan woman Bahá'í
    1955 15 Nov
    195-
    'Alí Muhammad Varqá was appointed a Hand of the Cause to succeed his father. [GBF111; MBW91] Varqá, `Alí-Muhammad; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Varqa
    1955 15 Nov
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that for the construction of the International Bahá'í Archives thirty of the fifty-two pillars, each over seven metres high, had been raised and that half of the nine hundred tons of stone ordered from Italy had been safely delivered at the Port of Haifa. He also said that a contract for over $15,000 had been placed with the tile factory in Utrecht for over 7,000 green tiles to cover the 500 square metres of the roof. [MBW95]
    He announced as well:
  • the purchase of a plot of land adjacent to the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf for $100,000,
  • the purchase of the dilapidated house situated south of the Mansion at Bahjí in which 'Abdu'l-Bahá used to receive friends, among them the first party of Western pilgrims after Bahá'u'lláh's passing,
  • a plot of land situated in the neighbourhood of the Shrine of the Báb,
  • and that the formalities had been completed in the purchase of the site of the future Mashriqu'lAdhkár on Mount Carmel. [MBW78-79, 95]
  • The transfer of the deeds for the above plots of land were being transferred to the name of the Israel branches of the United States, The British, the Persian the Canadian and the Australian Baháa'í National Spiritual Assemblies. [MBW95]
  • Bahji, Israel; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Haifa; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tea House of (Bajji); - Bahá'í World Centre; Utrecht, Netherlands; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1955 12 Nov
    195-
    Hand of the Cause of God Valíyu'lláh Varqá passed away in Stuttgart.
  • For his obituary see BW13:831–834.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • Varqa, Valiyullah; - In Memoriam; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Births and deaths; Varqa; Stuttgart, Germany; Germany
    1955 Oct
    195-
    Daniel Haumont arrived in the Loyalty Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Loyalty Islands
    1955 23 - 25 Sep
    195-
    International Teaching Conference was held in Nikko, Japan. [Japan Will Turn Ablaze p87, 97] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, International; Teaching; - First conferences; Nikko, Japan; Japan first conference held in Japan
    1955 Sep
    195-
    Fowzieh Sobhi arrived in British Somaliland from Egypt, the first Bahá'í to reside in the country. Fowzieh Sobhi; British Somaliland first pioneer to British Somaliland
    1955 Sep-Oct
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Iran continued to be dismissed from their employment. Bahá'í students were expelled from Shíráz University. [BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Shíráz, Iran; Iran
    1955 23 Aug
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced plans to begin construction on the House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda in light of the fact that the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár that had been planned for Tehran during the Ten Year Crusade had to be postponed due to circumstances in Iran. [MBW90; PP312; BW13p713; CG42-43; Bahá'í Faith, The: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963 compiled by Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land] Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Kampala; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Tihran; Kampala, Uganda; Uganda; Iran; Tehran, Iran
    1955 15 Aug
    195-
    The passing of Mabel Hyde Paine (b. 7 December 1877 in Rockville, CT, d. 15 August 1955 in Urbana, IL). She was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Urbana. [Find a Grave]

    Mabel Paine was a Bahá'í teacher and an author. She is remembered as the compiler of The Divine Art of Living that was first published by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee in Chicago in 1944 and saw numerous reprints and revisions until the four revisions. It is still in publication. [Collins4.114 - 4.117]

  • See also Paine, Mable Hyde; Obituary by Garrett Busey.
  • - In Memoriam; Mabel Hyde Paine; Rockville, CT; Urbana, IL
    1955 5 Aug
    195-
    In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles he requested that Bahá'ís withdraw from Churches, Synagogues, Freemasonry and other secret societies. A number of letters had been written before and were written after on the same subject. [LoGno.1387; LoGno.1388 (1956); LoGno.1389 (1956); LoGno.1390 (1956); LoGno.1391 (1951)]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá had previously permitted such membership in the Masons. [ABL127]
  • Membership of other organizations; Secret Societies; Masons; Masonry
    1955 Aug
    195-
    Appeals were made by National Spiritual Assemblies around the world through the Bahá'í International Community to the UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld to ask the Iranian government to halt the attacks on the Bahá'ís. [BW13:789–91; BW16:329; MBW88–9; PP304, 311; CBN No 81 October 1956 p1]
  • The intervention of the Secretary-General of the UN, along with the efforts of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, brought an end to the physical persecution of the Bahá'ís, although their human rights are still denied. [BW13:790; BW16:329]
  • This marked the first time the Faith was able to defend itself with its newly born administrative agencies. An "Aid the Persecuted Fund" was established.
  • Historian Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi noted that the 1955 anti-Bahá'í campaign was both the apogee and the point of separation of the state-clergy co-operation. The Shah succumbing to international pressure to provide human rights, withdrew support. The result was that the period from the late fifties until 1977-1978 was a period of relative safety. [Towards a History of Iran's Bahá'í Community During the Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979 by Mina Yazdani.]
  • Bahá'í International Community; United Nations; NSA; Human rights; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; New York, USA; United States (USA); Iran
    1955 28 Jul
    195-
    Seven Bahá'ís were stabbed and beaten to death by a mob in Hurmuzak, Iran. [BW18p391; Towards a History of Iran's Baha'i Community During the Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979 by Mina Yazdani.]
  • Several other Bahá'ís, including women, were beaten and injured; Bahá'í houses and property were damaged. [BW18:391]
  • See also M. Labíb, The Seven Martyrs of Hurmuzak.
  • See entry for 26 September, 2016.
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Mobs; - Persecution; Seven martyrs of Hurmuzak; Hurmuzak, Yazd; Iran
    1955 4 Jun
    195-
    Frank Wyss of Australia arrived on Cocos and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia
    1955 3 Jun
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that a thousand groups and local Assemblies telegraphed appeals to the Iranian authorities and that all National Assemblies addressed written communication to the Shah, the government, and to parliament pleading for justice and protection. [MBW89] * Persecution, Iran; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1955 3 Jun
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced to all National Assemblies that Majdi'd-Din, "the most redoubtable enemy of 'Abdu'l-Baha" and "the incarnation of Satan", someone who played a leading role in the kindling of the hostility of 'Abdu'l-Hamíd and Jamál Páshá and who was the instigator of Covenant-breaking and archbreaker of Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant, died at the age of one hundred after being struck with paralysis affecting his limbs and his tongue. [MBW87-88, 94]
  • He was the son of Bahá'u'lláh's only full brother Mírzá Músá, also know as Áqáy-i-Kalím. He was married to Samadiyyih, Bahá'u'lláh's daughter from his second wife Fatimih Khanum making him brother-in-law to Mírzá Muhammad `Alí.
  • Both Majdi'd-Dín and Samadiyyih were eventually declared Covenant-breakers for supporting Mírzá Muhammad `Alí. Majdi'd-Din was a scribe for Bahá'u'lláh. It was he who on June 6th or 7th, 1892, read the Kitáb-i-'Ahd to a large crowd in front of the Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh in which Bahá'u'lláh appointed 'Abdu'l-Bahá as his successor. [CBN No69 Oct 1955 p2]
  • Covenant-breaking; Majdid-Din; `Abdu'l-Hamid; Jamal Pasha; Mírzá Musa (Aqay-i-Kalim); Samadiyyih Khanum; Fatimih Khanum
    1955 2 Jun
    195-
    The first pioneer to settle in Laos, Dr Heshmat Ta'eed, arrived in the country from Thailand. - First travel teachers and pioneers; Laos first pioneer to Laos
    1955 1 Jun
    195-
    The House of Bahá'u'lláh in Tákur, Mázandarán, Iran, was taken over. [BW18p391] House of Bahá'u'lláh (Takur); * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Takur, Iran; Mazandaran, Iran; Iran
    1955 (Spring)
    195-
    Travelling by foot, Udai Narain Singh arrived in Tibet from Gangtok, Sikkim, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, his second such distinction.
  • He was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh in spring 1956. [BW13:456]
  • Udai Narain Singh; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tibet; Sikkim, India; India
    1955 30 May
    195-
    Bahá'ís were attacked and wounded and their houses attacked at Ábádih, Iran. [BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Ábádih, Iran; Iran
    1955 27 May
    195-
    The Bahá'í centre at Máhfurúzak, Iran, was demolished. [BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Mahfurúzak, Iran; Iran
    1955 24 May
    195-
    The Bahá'í centre at Karaj, Iran, was taken over. [BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Karaj, Iran; Iran
    1955 23 May
    195-
    The Bahá'í International Community submitted its Proposals for Charter Revision to the United Nations for the Conference for Revision of the UN Charter. [BW13:788, 795–802] Bahá'í International Community; United Nations Charter; United Nations; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1955 22 May
    195-
    The dome of the National Bahá'í Centre in Tihrán was demolished with the personal participation of several high-ranking army officers. The Haziratu'l-Quds had been taken over on the 7th of May. The publication of the pictures of the demolition encouraged a widespread outburst of persecution of Bahá'ís throughout Iran. [BW18:391; Archives of Bahá'í Persecution in Iran]
  • After the coup in 1953 the Shah was indebted to the clergy for their support and so they were given a greater latitude to persecute the Bahá'ís. In an attempt to show his gratitude the Shah sent a high ranking officer to ask if they had any special requests and they called for the Bahá'í Centre in Tehran to be destroyed. The army occupied the Centre and high-ranking officers and clerics jointly demolished the dome. [Towards a History of Iran's Bahá'í Community During the Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979 by Mina Yazdani.]
  • For pictures see BW13:293–4.
  • Photo.
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1955 17 May
    195-
    The Iranian Minister of the Interior announced in parliament that the Government had issued orders for the suppression of the 'Bahá'í sect' and the liquidation of the Bahá'í centres. [BBRSM174; BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Iran
    1955 16 May
    195-
    The Bahá'í centre at Isfahán, Iran, was taken over. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Isfahan, Iran; Iran
    1955 9 May
    195-
    Bahá'í houses were attacked and looted at Shíráz, Iran. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Shíráz, Iran; Iran
    1955 9 May
    195-
    The Bahá'í centre at Ahváz, Iran, was taken over. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Ahvaz, Iran; Iran
    1955 8 May
    195-
    Bahá'ís were beaten at Dámghán, Khurásán, Iran. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Damghan, Iran; Khurásán, Iran; Iran
    1955 8 May
    195-
    The Bahá'í centre at Rasht, Iran, was attacked and taken over. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Rasht, Iran; Iran
    1955 7 May
    195-
    The Iranian army occupied the National Bahá'í Centre in Tihrán. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1955 4 May
    195-
    Sylvia Ioas was appointed to the International Bahá'í Council as its ninth member. [BW19:612; GBF110; MBW86; PP253; CBN No65 Jun 1955 p1; BN No 292 Jun 1955 p3] Sylvia Ioas; International Bahá'í Council; Haifa, Israel
    1955 2 May
    195-
    The police locked the doors of the National Bahá'í Centre in Tihrán thus preventing the holding of the final day of the National Bahá'í Convention. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Conventions, National; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1955 May-Jul
    195-
    Persecutions against the Bahá'ís continued throughout Iran. [BW18p391]
  • Many Bahá'ís were beaten, including women and children.
  • Bahá'í houses and shops were looted and burned.
  • Bahá'ís employed in government service were dismissed.
  • Bodies of dead Bahá'ís were disinterred and mutilated.
  • Young Bahá'í women were abducted and forced to marry Muslims.
  • Several Bahá'í women were publicly stripped and/or raped.
  • Crops and orchards belonging to Bahá'ís were looted and destroyed.
  • Bahá'í children were expelled from schools.
  • The House of the Báb in Shíráz was damaged and almost destroyed by an anti-Bahá'í mob.
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Báb, House of (Shiraz); Shíráz, Iran; Iran
    1955 23 Apr
    195-
    Ramadán began. Shaykh Muhammad-Taqí known as "Falsafí" made an inflammatory speech against the Bahá'ís from a mosque in Tihrán. [BW18p390]
  • This was broadcast on national radio and stirred up the people against the Bahá'ís. [BW18:390]
  • Beatings, killings, looting and raping went on for several weeks, usually incited by the local 'ulamá. [BW18:390–1; MC16–17; ZK215–6]
  • The House of the Báb in Shíráz was attacked and damaged by a mob led by Siyyid Núru'd-Dín, a mujtahid.
  • See a publication in the newspaper Shahin Tehran about his "work".
  • Báb, House of (Shiraz); * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Mobs; - Persecution; Falsafi; Shaykh Muhammad-Taqi; Tehran, Iran; Shíráz, Iran; Iran
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Monaco was established.

    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Monaco was Margaret Lantz, of Luxembourg. Soon after her a Frenchman, Mr. Charbonnet, who owed an antique shop in Monaco, also accepted the Faith. Charlottte Campana was the first person of Monegasque nationality to become a Bahá'í.

    Bahá'í writings translated into Monegasque were officially presented to Crown Prince Albert in 2001. [Newspaper Archive on BLO]

    Monaco first LSA in Monaco
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Réunion was formed. Local Spiritual Assembly; Reunion Island; France first Local Spiritual Assembly in Réunion
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Zanzibar (Tanzania) was formed. Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Zanzibar, Tanzania firstLocal Spiritual Assembly in Zanzibar
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Vietnam was formed at Saigon-Cholon (Cholon is the Chinese section of Saigon). [BN No 293 July 1955 p5; Bahá'í Religion in Community Education in Vietnam by Vu Van Chung]
  • This body was also the first local assembly to be formed in Indochina.
  • Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Saigon, Vietnam; Vietnam first Local Spiritual Assembly in Vietnam
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in the Bahamas was formed in Nassau. Local Spiritual Assembly; Nassau, Bahamas; Bahamas first Local Spiritual Assembly in Bahamas
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in the Seychelles was formed in Victoria. Local Spiritual Assembly; Limbé, Camaroon; Seychelles first Local Spiritual Assembly in Seychelles
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Madagascar was formed in Tananarive (Antananarivo). Local Spiritual Assembly; Tananarive, Madagascar; Madagascar first Local Spiritual Assembly in Madagascar
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first Local Spiritual Assembly in Italian Somalia was formed in Mogadishu. Local Spiritual Assembly; Mogadishu, Somalia; Italian Somaliland first LSA in Italian Somaliland
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first native Mozambican Bahá'í, Festas Chambeni, took the Bahá'í Faith to Angola. [BW13:290] Festas Chambeni; Angola first native Mozambican Bahá’í
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual in Mozambique was established in Lourenço Marques. [BW13:290] Local Spiritual Assembly; Lourenco Marques, Mozambique; Mozambique first Local Spiritual Assembly in Mozambique
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly of French Togoland (Togo) formed at Lomé. Local Spiritual Assembly; Lomé, Togo; French Togoland (Togo); Togo first Local Spiritual Assembly in French Togoland (Togo)
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) was formed in Salisbury (Harare). [CG21] Local Spiritual Assembly; Harare, Zimbabwe; Southern Rhodesia first Local Spiritual Assembly in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first four local spiritual assemblies in The Gambia were formed in Bathurst (Banjul), Serrekunda, Lamin and Brikama. Local Spiritual Assembly; Banjul (Bathurst), The Gambia; Serrekunda, The Gambia; Lamin and Brikama, The Gambia; Gambia, The first four Local Spiritual Assemblies in The Gambia
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    The first five local assemblies in Bechuanaland (Botswana) were formed in Seqonoka, Maseru, Mafeteng, Maphohloane and Sephapos' Gate. Local Spiritual Assembly; Seqonoka, Botswana; Maseru, Botswana; Mafeteng, Botswana; Maphohloane and Sephapos Gate, Botswana; Lesotho, South Africa first five Local Spiritual Assemblies in what is now Lesotho
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    (The) design (for the) Mother Temple (in the) cradle (of the) Faith (was) unveiled (in the) presence (of) pilgrims (and) resident believers assembled (within the) Haram-i-Aqdas (on the) first day (of) Ridvan. SHOGHI [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p1] Bahji, Israel
    1955 21 April
    195-
    In 1843, the Báb's only child, Ahmad, was still-born or died soon after birth. Khadíjih Bagum had a very difficult delivery and almost died as a result. The child was buried under a pine (or cypress) tree in the shrine of Bíbí-Dukhtarán (meaning Matron or Mistress of the Maidens).
  • In the opening days of 1955, the Shíráz municipality decided to construct a school on the site which would have destroyed the grave. When advised of the situation Shoghi Effendi responded: "Guardian approves transfer remains Primal Point's Son Gulistán Jávíd. Ensure befitting burial."
  • The Spiritual Assembly arranged for the remains to be exhumed, laid in a silk container, and placed in a cement coffin. For three months, the coffin was kept in the western part of the local Hadiratu'l-Quds. On the 21st of April 1955, which coincided with the day of the Báb's martyrdom reckoned by the lunar calendar, a special ceremony for the reinterment was held. It was the largest Bahá'í gathering in Shíráz in the history of the Bahá'í Faith. Multitudes of believers from all parts of the country participated in the historic event. In a prayerful atmosphere, the remains were reinterred in the Bahá'í cemetery of Shíráz. The Guardian heard the details and, on 24 April, cabled his joy: "SHIRAZ ASSEMBLY CARE KHADEM TEHERAN. OVERJOYED HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT CONGRATULATE VALIANT FRIENDS LOVING REMEMBRANCE SHRINES SUPPLICATING BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS. SHOGHI." [The Afnán Family: Some Biographical Notes by Ahang Rabbani 2007 Note <44>]
  • In the first báb of the fifth vahíd of the Persian Bayán, the Báb asks for a befitting structure to be built over the resting-place of Ahmad for the faithful to worship God. [Bahaipedia] .
  • Ahmad (son of the Báb); * Báb, The (chronology); Báb, Family of; Cemeteries and graves; - Births and deaths; Shíráz, Iran; Iran; Cypress trees
    1955 18 Apr
    195-
    After the violent storm of persecutions against the Bahá'í's in Iran broke loose, the Bahá'í International Community delegates presented their case and Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, intervened with the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs and brought an immediate end to the physical persecution and lifted the danger of a massacre. [Bahá'í International Community History, 18 April 1955] United Nations; * Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í International Community; Iran
    1955 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the Bahá'í Faith was represented in 236 countries, in 3,200 locations, by over 40 ethnic groups. Bahá'í literature was translated into 176 languages. [MBW76–8] Statistics; Growth; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Worldwide
    1955 Apr
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in the Bahamas, Molly Newbold, enrolled.
  • As she did not remain a Bahá'í, Arnold Wells, a tinsmith who became a Bahá'í on 20 April, is regarded as the first Bahá'í. Christine Thompson, who owned a small fruit and vegetable shop, and Frank Ferguson, who owned a gas station, also enrolled on 20 April.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Islands; Bahamas first Bahá’í in Bahamas
    1955 20 Mar
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the acquisition of 36,000 square metres of land for the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the Holy Land. [DH175; MBW78–9]
  • The entire sum of $180,000 for the purchase was donated by Amelia Collins. [MBW79]
  • In April Shoghi Effendi reported that $50,000 had been contributed by the Hand of the Cause, Amelia Collins for the purpose of establishing Bahá'í national endowments in no less than fifty countries, situated in all five continents of the globe. [MBW81-82]
  • See the letter from the Guardian dated the 1st of October 1954 for a list of other properties/ buildings that were acquired due to the generosity of Millie Collins. [CBN No58 Nov 1954 p1; BN No 285 November 1954 p1]
  • Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Haifa; Purchases and exchanges; Amelia Collins; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Endowments; Donations; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; - Worldwide first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land
    1955 14 Mar
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Guam, Charles T. Mackey, a United States civil service employee, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Guam first Bahá’í in Guam
    1955 4 Mar
    195-
    The first Tongan to become a Bahá'í in Tonga, Tevita Ngalo'afe, enrolled. - First believers by background; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Tonga first Tongan Bahá’í in Tonga
    1955 Mar
    195-
    Kamálí Sarvístání arrived on Socotra Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Socotra Island
    1955 Mar
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in the Solomon Islands, William Gina, a 43-year-old Solomon Islander from the Western Solomon Islands, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Solomon Islands; Oceania first Bahá’í in Solomon Islands
    1955 8–15 Feb
    195-
    The first people to become Bahá'ís in Réunion, Paul and Françoise Tayllamin (8 Feb) and Jean Donat and Julien Araye (15 Feb), enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Reunion Island; France first Bahá’ís in Réunion
    1955 4 Feb
    195-
    Bahá'í women in Hisár, Khurásán, Iran, were assaulted. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Hisar, Iran; Khurásán, Iran; Iran
    1955 Feb
    195-
    The first local person to become a Bahá'í in Mauritius, Mr Yam-Lim, a Chinese Catholic, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Mauritius first local Bahá’í in Mauritius
    1955 18–22 Jan
    195-
    Five Bahá'ís were arrested and beaten in Hisár, Khurásán, Iran; four of these are dragged around the town; Bahá'í houses were attacked, looted and set on fire. [BW18p390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Hisar, Iran; Khurásán, Iran; Iran
    1955 8 Jan
    195-
    Señor Moyses Mosquera Zevallos became the first believer of the Galapagos Islands to accept the Faith. As a result of his becoming a Bahá'í he was persecuted by the priest and both he and his wife lost their jobs as teachers. He was wrongfully accused of immoral acts with some of his students in spite of the fact that the teaching space was such that his wife was constantly with him.

    Moses was dismissed from his position because of the influence of the priest but he was asked to return to Naranjal because of the demands of the parents of his students. He remained at this school until his retirement during the late 1970's. [Heroes of God: History of the Bahá'í Faith in Ecuador, 1940-1979 by Helen Basset Hornby p69; 77]

    Santa Cruz, Galápagos; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Ecuador the first to accept the Eahá'i Faith in the Galapagos.
    1955 c. Jan
    195-
    The first Tswana Bahá'í, Stanlake Kukama, enrolled in Mafikeng. - First believers by background; Mafikeng, Botswana; South Africa first Tswana Bahá’í
    1955 Jan
    195-
    Dorothy Senne became the first Bahá'í in South Africa. [BWNS270] Dorothy Senne; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); South Africa First Bahá'í in South Africa.
    1955 (In the year)
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Grenada, John Protain, a waiter at the Santa Maria Hotel, enrolled. John Protain; Grenada first Bahá’í in Grenada
    1955 (In the year)
    195-
    Twenty–two African Bahá'ís were expelled from the Belgian Congo. Persecution, Belgian Congo; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Congo, Democratic Republic of
    1955 (In the year)
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Spanish Sahara, 'Abdu'l-Salam Salím Al-Sbintí, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Spanish Sahara first Bahá’í in Spanish Sahara
    1955 (In the year)
    195-
    Labíb Isfahání arrived in Abidjan, French West Africa, from Dakar, the first Bahá'í to settle in what is now the Ivory Coast. Habib Isfahani; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; French West Africa first Bahá’í to settle in Ivory Coast
    1955 (In the year)
    195-
    The first indigenous Samoan to become a Bahá'í, Sa'ialala Tamasese, enrolled.
  • He was a member of one of the three royal families of Samoa. [BINS, No. 100, 1 MARCH 1979, p. 1]
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Bahá'í royalty; Royalty; Samoa first indigenous Samoan Bahá’í
    1955 (In the year)
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in The Gambia, Mr Nichola Banna, a Lebanese merchant, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Gambia, The first Bahá’í in The Gambia
    1955 to 2007
    195-
    The fifth Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh was 'Ali-Muhammad Varqá. He inherited both the Trusteeship and the station of Hand of the Cause of God from his father upon his passing. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985]
  • During his tenure the compilation Huqúqu'lláh was published (1985) by the Universal House of Justice.
  • The delegates gathered at the National Convention of the Bahá'ís of the United States in 1984 petitioned the Universal House of Justice to make the Law of the Huqúqu'lláh applicable in their country. (Up to this point the law only applied to Bahá'is of Persian origin.) The Universal House of Justice replied that it was not yet time for such a measure but did agree to make more information available in preparation for such a time. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 3 January, 1985, AWH30]
  • Friends in Austria and the United States published codifications on the Law of the Huqúqu'lláh. To the benefit of the believers everywhere the Research Department at the World Centre was asked to prepare a brief history and a Codification. This information was sent to all national assemblies in the Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1987.
  • In 1991 the Central Office of Huqúqu'lláh was established in the Holy Land under the direction of the Chief Trustee in anticipation of the worldwide application of the law. Subsequently regional and national boards were established. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 26 November, 1991]
  • With the publication of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in English in 1992 the law of the Huqúqu'lláh became universally applicable.
  • In 2005 an International Board of Trustees of the Huqúqu'lláh was established to guide the regional and national boards. Three members appointed to the Board were Sally Foo, Ramin Khadem, and Grant Kvalheim. Their term of office was to be determined. [Ridván 2005]
  • The last Hand of the Cause of Cause and Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh, Alí Muhammad Varqá, passed away in Haifa on the 22nd of September, 2007. [BWNS579]
  • Huqúqu'lláh; Varqá, `Alí-Muhammad; Huququllah, Trustees of; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Varqa; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1954 16 Dec
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the death of Avarih in Iran, "CONDEMNED POSTERITY MOST SHAMELESS, VICIOUS, RELENTLESS APOSTATE ANNALS FAITH, WHO THROUGH CEASELESS VITRIOLIC ATTACKS RECORDED VOLUMINOUS WRITINGS CLOSE ALLIANCE ITS TRADITIONAL ENEMIES, ASSIDUOUSLY SCHEMED BLACKEN ITS NAME SUBVERT FOUNDATIONS ITS INSTITUTIONS.
  • In the same message he announced the death of Ameen Fareed in North America; "HISTORY WILL RECOGNIZE ONE MOST PERFIDIOUS AMONG KINSMEN INTERPRETERS CENTER COVENANT, WHO, DRIVEN BY UNGOVERNABLE CUPIDITY COMMITTED ACTS CAUSING AGONIES GRIEF DESTRESS BELOVED MASTER CULMINATING OPEN ASSOCIATION BREAKERS BAHA'U'LLAH'S COVENANT HOLY LAND."
  • Likewise he announced the death of Falah in Turkey; "CHIEFLY REMEMBERED PRIDE, OBSTINACY INSATIABLE AMBITION IMPELLING HIM VIOLATE SPIRITUAL ADMINISTRATIVE PRECEPTS FAITH."
    • Ne'matullah Falah had left Iran at the time of Baha'u'llah's exile and had finally settled in Iskenderun, Turkey, where he had become a successful businessman. He had been appointed Honorary Iranian Consul in that city, a post he had taken upon the explicit encouragement of the Master, 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Upon his accession to the Guardianship Shoghi Effendi had considered that it would serve the Cause better if Baha'is refrained from all political activities. He therefore asked Falah to resign his post. This Falah refused to do, especially as he had a letter from the Master urging him to take the post. This resulted in the expulsion of Falah and his family from the Cause.
    [Bahá'í History]
  • Covenant-breaking; `Abdu'l-Husayn Ávárih; Ameen Fareed (Amin Farid); Nematullah Falah; Iran; Turkey; United States (USA)
    1954 8 Dec
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Ádharbáyján were dismissed from their employment in the Ministries of Health and Public Highways. [BW18p390] Persecution, Adharbayjan; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Azerbaijan
    1954 27 Nov
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi described the significance of the world administrative centre of the Faith and the 'structures, which will serve as the administrative seats of such divinely appointed institutions as the Guardianship, the Hands of the Cause, and the Universal House of Justice' to be ranged along a 'far-flung arc'. [MBW74] Guardianship; - Hands of the Cause; Universal House of Justice, Seat of (Haifa); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel; Arc (World Centre)
    1954 27 Nov
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the commencement of "the excavation for the foundations of the International Archives heralding the rise of the first edifice destine to inaugurate the establishment of the seat of the World Baha'i Administrative order in the Holy Land". [MBW75] - Bahá'í World Centre; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1954 20 Nov
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Tonga, Harry Terepo, born in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, enrolled.
  • He was a teacher, interpreter and guide living in Ohonua on the island of Eua.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Tonga first Bahá’í in Tonga
    1954 1 Nov
    195-
    The members of the Algerian National Liberation Front initiated an armed conflict on French targets to start the Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the War of Independence which lasted until 1962 and lead to the independence of Algeria from France. This decolonization war was marked by guerrilla warfare, war crimes, and civil strife. The conflict ended with the signing of the Évian Accords.

    The war had a profound human cost, with estimates of Algerian casualties ranging from 400,000 to 1.5 million, alongside 25,600 French soldiers and 6,000 Europeans. The war also saw the perpetration of war crimes, including massacres, rape, torture, the destruction of villages, and the displacement of over 2 million Algerians. Upon independence, approximately 900,000 European-Algerians fled to France. The FLN targeted the Harkis, Algerian Muslims who served with the French army, for retribution, with many facing brutal violence. About 90,000 Harkis found refuge in France, where they and their descendants form a significant community​. [Wikipedia]

    Colonialism and imperialism; History (general); Algeria; France
    1954 Nov
    195-
    A plot of land of slightly less than half an acre (1,300 metres) owned by Farah Sprague (Farahangiz Khanum), a Covenant-breaker, was purchased (after expropriation by the Finance Minister of the state of Israel on the recommendation of the mayor of Haifa), overcoming the final obstacle to beginning the construction of the International Bahá'í Archives. This concluded a thirty-year struggle in the acquisition of land on the Arc for the Guardian. [LI210-211; DH169; MBW73–4; CBN No 60 January 1955 p1]
  • He said, in a letter dated the 27th of November 1955...

      "The truculence, greed and obstinacy, of this breaker of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, demonstrated by her persistent refusal to sell and by the exorbitant price subsequently demanded, raised, during more than thirty years, an almost insurmountable obstacle to the acquisition of an area, which, however circumscribed, occupies a central position amidst the extensive Baha'i domains in the heart of God's holy Mountain, is situated in the vicinity of the Báb's Sepulchre, overlooks the Tomb of the Greatest Holy Leaf, and adjoins the resting-places of the Brother and the Mother of Abdu'l-Bahá, and which, through deliberate neglect, has. been allowed to become an eyesore to all those who throng the embellished precincts of a Mausoleum rightly regarded as the second holiest Shrine in the Bahá'í world.
      The ownership of this plot will now enable us to locate the site, excavate the foundations, and erect the structure, of the International Bahá'í Archives, designed by the Hand of the Cause, Mason Remey, President of the International Bahá'í Council, which will serve as the permanent and befitting repository for the priceless and numerous relics associated with the Twin Founders of the Faith, with the Perfect Exemplar of its teachings and with its heroes, saints and martyrs, and the building of which constitutes one of the foremost objectives of the Ten-Year Plan. [CBN No 60 January 1955 p1]
  • Farah Sprague (Farahangiz Khanum); Covenant-breaking; Purchases and exchanges; Mount Carmel; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Haifa, Israel; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1954 22 Oct
    195-
    Mr and Mrs Suleimani arrived in Keelung, Taiwan by ship. They spent the rest of their lives there.

    Ridvaniyyih Suleimani served on the Auxiliary Board and the National Spiritual Assembly. She passed away in Taiwan on the 18th of March 1981. [BW18p752-754]

    Suleiman Suleimani served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan from its formation in 1967 until 1978. He also served as a deputy of the institution of the Huqúqu'lláh for about two decades. [BW20p889-891]

    The Suleimanis, originally from Iran, had lived for about 28 years in Shanghai where Mrs Ridvaniyyih Suleimani's father, Mr Husayn Ouskouli Uskuli (or Uskui) had long resided and conducted a business. Mr and Mrs Suleimani had left Shanghai permanently in 1950 because of the difficult situations for foreigners in China but Mr Ouskouli decided to stay on and won the admiration of the Guardian. He died in Shanghai at the age of 86. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p3; PH39; Video Early history of the Bahá'í Faith in China 7 min 57 sec]

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Riḍvániyyih Ouskouli and Muhammad Suleimani Milani; Husayn Ouskouli Uskuli; Auxiliary board members; Keelung, Taiwan; Taiwan; Shanghai, China; China
    1954 8 Oct
    195-
    Richard Nolen and his family, (Lois A. (Warner), Linda Jean, Cynthia and John), arrived in the Azores, for which he and his wife were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. Two more children,Christopher Lee and Sylvia Louise, were born to the Nolens during their time there. Due to Richards failing health, the family returned to the United States and settled in Tacoma, Washington in August of 1962. After a prolonged illness Richard passed away on the 5th of May 1964. [Bahaipedia] Richard Nolen; Lois Nolen; Linda Jean Nolen; Cynthia Nolen; John Nolen; Azores; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh
    1954 Oct
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Nassau, Bahamas, Winfield Small, a young police officer from Barbados, enrolled.
  • Mr Small opened Barbados to the Faith.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Nassau, Bahamas; Bahamas; Barbados first Bahá’í in Nassau, Bahamas
    1954 3 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi designated Martha Root as a Hand of the Cause of God posthumously. She had passed away on September 28, 1939 in Hawaii.
  • Shoghi Effendi called her the 'archetype of Bahá'í itinerant teachers', the 'foremost Hand raised by Bahá'u'lláh since 'Abdu'l-Bahá's passing', 'Leading ambassadress of His Faith' and 'Pride of Bahá'í teachers'. [GPB386]
  • Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Martha Root
    1954 1 - 3 Oct
    195-
    Bahá'ís of Germany and the European Hands of the Cause invited the Bahá'ís of Europe to the Haziratu'l-Quds in Frankfurt am Main to develop plans and to coordinate action in the work of the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade. [BN No 285 Nov 1954 p5] Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences; Frankfurt, Germany; Germany first Bahá'í European Conference to meet in Germany
    1954 1 Oct
    195-
    Anthony and Mamie Seto arrived in Hong Kong. - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Anthony Seto; Mamie Seto; Hong Kong; - Asia
    1954 1 Oct
    195-
    The title of the a parcel of land on Mount Carmel was transferred to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada, Israel Branch. The title deed was for Parcel No. 304, Block 10811 Mount Carmel, Haifa. Purchases and exchanges; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel; Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1954 1 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that there were Bahá'ís in 235 countries and territories and over 3000 centres around the world. [MBW69–70] Statistics; Growth; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Worldwide
    1954 Oct
    195-
    A National Haziratu'l-Quds was established in Kabul. [MBW70; 81] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Kabul, Afghanistan; Afghanistan
    1954 26 Sep
    195-
    The first native Greek to become a Bahá'í, Emmanuel Petrakis, enrolled in Crete. Emmanuel Petrakis; Crete, Greece first native Greek Bahá’í
    1954 17 - 24 Sep
    195-
    The first Italo-Swiss Joint Summer School was held September 17-24 in Bex les Bains in Switzerland, and was attended by as many as 75 friends. Dr. Ugo R. Giachery, Hand of the Cause, discussed the Ten-Year Crusade, and Prof. Zeine-Zeine of Beirut lectured on the Kitáb-i-Iqán. For these sessions all the friends were together. Smaller groups, by language, were formed for study of Bahá’í Administration. [Baha'i News Issue 286, December 1954 p4]
  • For a photo see Bahá'í News Issue 291 May 1955 p14.
  • The first Italo-Swiss Joint Summer School
    1954 6 Sep
    195-
    The first people to become Bahá'ís in Bechuanaland (Lesotho), Chadwick and 'Maselai (Mary) Mohapi, enrolled. [BW17:449–52] Lesotho, South Africa; - Africa; Bechuanaland first Bahá’ís in Bechuanaland (Lesotho)
    1954 Sep
    195-
    Four people had become Bahá'ís in Zanzibar by this date. Statistics; Zanzibar, Tanzania
    1954 28 Aug
    195-
    Mihribán Suhaylí (Mehraban Sohaili) arrived on the Comoro Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] Mihriban Suhayli (Mehraban Sohaili); - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Comoros Islands
    1954 7 Aug
    195-
    Marcia Steward de Matamoros Atwater arrived in the Marshall Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] Marcia Atwater; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Marshall Islands
    1954 15 Jul
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Macau, Harry P. F. Yim (Yim Pui Foung), a 45-year-old small business proprietor born in Canton, China, enrolled. Harry P. F. Yim (Yim Pui Foung); Macau first Bahá’í in Macau
    1954 12 Jul
    195-
    The first South African to become a Bahá'í enrolled in the Faith on this day. [That Promising Continent 20] - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Pretoria, South Africa; South Africa first South African to become a Bahá'í
    1954 12 Jul
    195-
    Dudley Moore Blakely, an artist, sculptor and designer, and his wife, Elsa ('Judy'), British citizens living in Maine, arrived on Tongatapu and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Tonga Islands. [BW13:456] They shared the honour with Dr. Stanley Bolton. [BWNS286] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Tonga
    1954 Second half of the year
    195-
    The first Somali to become a Bahá'í in Djibouti, 'Alí 'Abdu'lláh, a 21-year old employee of a commercial firm, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Djibouti, East Africa; Somalia; - Africa first Somali Bahá’í
    1954 5 Jul
    195-
    Violet Hoehnke, an Australian, arrived in Papua New Guinea and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Admiralty Islands. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Papua New Guinea; Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea
    1954 Jul
    195-
    Reginald Stone and Allan Delph became Bahá'ís in British Guiana, the first two people to accept the Faith in that country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; British Guiana; Latin America first Bahá'ís in British Guiana
    1954 Jul
    195-
    Dr John George Mitchell, an English physician who became a Bahá'í in 1950, arrived in Malta and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Malta
    1954 Jul
    195-
    José Marques arrived in Portuguese Timor and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Portuguese Timor; East Timor
    1954 Jul c.
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in Brunei, Daphne Hassan, enrolled. Daphne Hassan; Brunei first Bahá’í in Brunei
    1954 24 Jun
    195-
    Shápúr Rawhání and Ardishír Furúdí, Iranian residents of India, arrived in Bhutan by foot and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. They spent about two months in Bhutan. However, circumstances did not permit them to remain longer and they had to return to India. [BW13:449]
  • They were accompanied to the Bhutan border by the prime minister of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji.
  • In about 1961 Dr. Anayat Soroosh Yaganagi, a Bahá'í of Zoroastrian background from Bangalore pioneered to Bhutan. See the brief history of his family and the development of the Faith in the country in "Bahá'í Recollections" written by one of his daughters, Geeti Yaganegi.
  • Shapur Rawhani; Ardishir Furudi; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bhutan; India
    1954 19 Jun
    195-
    The first Canary Islander to become a Bahá'í, Sr. José Jacinto Castillo y Gonzalez, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Canary Islands, Spain first Canary Islander Bahá’í
    1954 18 Jun
    195-
    The first islander to become a Bahá'í in the Seychelles, Marshall Delcy, a local school teacher, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Islands; Seychelles first islander Bahá'í in Seychelles
    1954 9 Jun
    195-
    The passing of Alain LeRoy Locke (b. September 13, 1885, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.) in New York. He was laid to rest in Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC.
  • Locke graduated from Harvard University and was the first African American to win a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship (1907). Despite his intellect and clear talent, Locke faced significant barriers as an African American. In spite of the fact that he had been selected as the first African-American Rhodes Scholar, Locke was denied admission to several colleges at the University of Oxford because of his race. He finally gained entry into Hertford College, where he studied from 1907 to 1910. Locke also studied philosophy at the University of Berlin during his years abroad. He subsequently received a doctorate in philosophy from Harvard and taught at Howard University.
  • Locke declared his belief in the Bahá'í Faith in 1918. He is thus among a list of some 40 known African Americans to join the religion during the ministry of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • In 1925 he published The New Negro: An Interpretation of Negro Life. It was an anthology showcasing African American artists and is generally considered a seminal moment in the founding of the Harlem Renaissance and he became known as the "Dean of the Harlem Renaissance" which sought to advance African Americans through race relations, the arts, and social thought, leaving behind European and white American styles and celebrating the black experience.
  • See Alain Locke: Four Talks Redefining Democracy, Education, and World Citizenship edited and introduced by Christoper Buck and Betty J Fisher in World Order Vol 38 No3 p21-41. [Uplifting Words; Wikipedia] [Uplifting Words; Wikipedia]
  • See his article "Impressions of Haifa". [BW3p527-528]
  • See also his article "The Orientation of Hope". [BW5p527-528]
  • See Alain Locke: Bahá'í Philosopher by Christopher Buck.
  • See Alain Locke: Faith & Philosophy by Christopher Buck
    • See the review by Derik Smith in World Order Vol 38 No3 p42-48.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • See Bahá'í Teachings.
  • See Uplifting Words.
  • The Bahá'í Faith and African American History: Creating Racial and Religious Diversity, Chapter 3: "Alain Locke on Race, Religion, and the Bahá'í Faith" by Christopher Buck.
  • The US Postal Service issued a series of stamps entitles Great Literary Movement: The voices of the Harlem Renaissance Forever on 21 May 2020.
  • Find a grave.
  • Alain Locke; - In Memoriam; * Philosophy; Race amity; Race unity; Harlem Renaissance; African Americans; Philadelphia, PA; New York, USA the first African-American Rhodes Scholar,
    1954 Jun
    195-
    Shawqí Riyád Rawhání (Shoghi Riaz Rouhani), an Iranian from Egypt, arrived in Las Palmas and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Canary Islands. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; Canary Islands, Spain
    1954 Jun
    195-
    Louise Groger arrived on Chiloé Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Chiloé Island, Chile
    1954 Jun
    195-
    Harold and Florence Fitzner arrived in Portuguese Timor and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] Harold Fitzner; Florence Fitzner; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Portuguese Timor; East Timor
    1954 29 May
    195-
    Haik (Haig) Kevorkian arrived in the Galápagos Islands and settled on the island of Santa Cruz. He was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. Haig had been present in Guayaquil as an itinerant pioneer-teacher in 1945 when the first local Assembly of that city was formed. He returned in 1954 to fill the virgin goal of the Galapagos. [BW13:452; Heroes of God: History of the Bahá'í Faith in Ecuador, 1940-1979 p24; 61]
  • On March 8, 1955 on the island of Santa Cruz, Señor Moyses Mosquera Zevallos enrolled as the first believer of the Galapagos. He was a school teacher from the mainland of Ecuador working on the island. Later he was dismissed from his job and was forced to leave theGalapagos due to accusations made against him of immoral acts with some of his students in spite of the fact that the teaching space was such that his wife was constantly with him. He had been the victim of an attack by the parish priest[ibid p76]
  • Haig returned to his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January 1956. His family came from Turkey but he was born in Syria on October 1, 1916 and came to Argentina as a youth with his family. He married his fiancée Miss Aurora de Eyto on October 19, 1957. His wife reported that he had colds continuously after returning from the islands, and on August 3, 1970 Haig passed away at .the age of 54. [ibid p75]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Haig Kevorkian; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Ecuador
    1954 26 May
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi, Rúhíyyih Khánum and Leroy Ioas returned the visit of President Ben Zvi by visiting him in Jerusalem. [GBF140; PP293–4] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Leroy Ioas; Ben Zvi; - Presidents; Jerusalem, Israel; Israel
    1954 17 May
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Elise Lynelle (then Schreiber) in Bata, the capital of Rio Muni, Spanish Guinea, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for a second time, this time for Spanish Guinea. [BW13:456; BWNS330] Elise Schreiber (later Lynelle); - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bata, Equatorial Guinea; Spanish Guinea; Equatorial Guinea
    1954 2 May
    195-
    Mavis Nymon and Vivian Wesson, both Americans, arrived in French Togoland and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Togo; - Africa
    1954 5 May
    195-
    Sabrí and Fahima (Ra'isa) Elias, an Egyptian couple with four children, arrived in Djibouti and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for French Somaliland. [BW13:451] Sabri Elias; Raissa Elias; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Somaliland; Djibouti, East Africa
    1954 4 May
    195-
    Elizabeth Stamp, an Irish-American widow from New York City, arrived in St Helena and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; St. Helena
    1954 4 May
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi closed the Roll of Honour, except for those pioneers who have already left for their posts and those first arriving in the remaining virgin territories inside and outside the Soviet Republics and satellites. [MBW69] Roll of Honour; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1954 2 May
    195-
    Cynthia R. Olson of Wilmington, Delaware, settled in Barrigada, the largest village in Guam, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Mariana Islands. [BW13:454; BWNS303] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Barrigada, Guam; Guam; Mariana Islands; Oceania
    1954 2 May
    195-
    The arrival of Knights of Bahá'u'lláh Mavis Nymon and Vivian Wesson in French Togoland (now called Togo). [BWNS329 ] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); French Togoland (Togo); Togo
    1954 May
    195-
    Elinore Putney arrived in the Aleutian Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Aleutian Islands, AK; Alaska, USA; United States (USA); Russia
    26 Apr
    195-
    President of Israel Ben Zvi and his wife visit the Shrines on Mount Carmel, the first official visit paid by a head of a sovereign state to the Shrines of the Báb and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [GBF139–140; MBW68; PP2923] Ben Zvi; - Presidents; Prominent visitors; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Firsts, other; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel first official visit head of a sovereign state to Shrine of the Báb
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    In Uganda, 2 years previous, there were no Bahá'ís. By this time there were over 700 Bahá'ís, with 24 Spiritual Assemblies. [That Promising Continent 18] Statistics; Uganda
    1954 21 Apr
    195-
    Bruce Matthews arrived at Goose Bay and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Labrador. [BW13:453]

    See Bruce Matthews, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Goose Bay, Labrador by Lynn Wright and Susan Gammage.

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Goose Bay, NL; Labrador, NL; Canada
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Algeria was formed in Algiers. [BWIM114] Local Spiritual Assembly; Algiers, Algeria; Algeria first Local Spiritual Assembly Algeria
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly was formed in in Usumbura (later Bujumbura, Burundi) and it composed entirely of Congolese. At that time the area was called Ruanda-Urundi. In 1962 Ruanda-Urundi became the two independent states of Rwanda and Burundi. [A Remarkable Response Film 26:55] Local Spiritual Assembly; Bujumbura, Burundi; Burundi first Local Spiritual Assembly Ruanda-Urundi (Burundi)
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly was formed in British Cameroons. Local Spiritual Assembly; British Cameroon first Local Spiritual Assembly British Cameroons
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    The first all African local spiritual assembly in Tanganyika was formed in Bukoba. Local Spiritual Assembly; Bukoba, Tanzania; Tanganyika, Tanzania first all African Local Spiritual Assembly in Tanganyika
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    The first local spiritual assembly in the Malay Peninsula was established in Seremban. Local Spiritual Assembly; Seremban, Malaysia; British Malaya first Local Spiritual Assembly Malay Peninsula
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    Adelaide Sharp, who had been in Iran since 1929, was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, the first woman elected to that body. [BFA2:361] Adelaide Sharp; NSA; Firsts, other; Women; Iran first woman elected NSA Iran
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    In his cablegram of October 8, 1952, Shoghi Effendi called upon all 15 "continental" Hands to appoint, during Ridván, 1954, five Auxiliary Boards, one on each continent, composed of nine members each to work as their deputies along with the National Assemblies to assist in the execution of the twelve teaching plans. [BW13p335, MBW44, 63] Auxiliary board members; Assistants; Appointed arm
    18 Apr
    195-
    John and Valera Allen arrived in Swaziland and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Swaziland
    1954 13 Apr
    195-
    David Tanyi, a tailor, arrived in French Togoland from British Cameroons and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Togoland (Togo); Togo
    1954 12 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi accepted the bid made by the firm of Enrico Pandolfini of Pietrasanta in Tuscany, Italy for the supply of the obelisk will mark the place of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the Holy Land. After the delivery of the materials circumstances did not allow for the obelisk to be erected. The Universal House of Justice completed the project in August, 1971. Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Haifa; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Obelisks; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Pietrasanta, Italy; Tuscany, Italy; Italy
    1954 11 Apr
    195-
    Bula Mott Stewart arrived in Swaziland and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Swaziland
    1954 9 Apr
    195-
    Gayle Woolson and her companion, Rebecca Kaufman, arrived in the Galapagos Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] [Heroes of God p59] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Ecuador
    1954 6 Apr
    195-
    In his Ridván Message Shoghi Efffendi announced that: The site for the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the Holy Land has been selected--an area of approximately twenty thousand square meters--situated at the head of the Mountain of God, in close proximity to the Spot hallowed by the footsteps of Bahá'u'lláh, near the time-honoured Cave of Elijah, and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter of the World Spiritual and Administrative Centres of the Faith on that mountain. Funds totalling one hundred thousand dollars have, moreover, been contributed by one of the Hands of the Cause*, residing in the Holy Land, and negotiations have been initiated with the Israeli authorities for the purpose of effecting the immediate purchase of the selected site. (*Hand of the Cause Milly Collins) [MBW63; DoH175]

    In another message about a year later he provided further details. [MBW78-79]

    Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Haifa; Funds; Amelia Collins; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the Holy Land
    1954 6 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that plans for the International Bahá'í Archives had been completed and that steps had been taken to begin its construction. [PP264BBD22–3; DH169; GBF117–8; MBW64] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; - Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel; International Archives Building (Haifa)
    1954 6 Apr
    195-
    Five Continental Bahá'í Funds were inaugurated by Shoghi Effendi. [MBW59, 63] Funds; Funds, Continental; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre
    1954 (Prior to)
    195-
    The first native Fijian, the first Pygmy, the first Berber and the first Greenlander to accept the Bahá'í Faith enrolled. [MBWp62] - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - First believers by background; Greenland
    1954 6 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the creation of five Auxiliary Boards with the following number of members: Asia 7; America 9; Europe 9; Africa 9; Australia 2. [BW13p335; CBN No 53 June 1954 p6; MBW44, 58-60]
  • Their function was to 'act as deputies of the Hands in their respective continents', to 'aid and advise them in the effective prosecution of the' and to assist them 'in the discharge of their dual and sacred task of safeguarding the Faith and of promoting its teaching activities'. [MBW63]
  • See also BBD26; BBRSM127; MC3.
  • These boards were mandated with the propagation of the Faith.
  • Auxiliary board members; Appointed arm; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; Funds, Continental; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that there were Bahá'ís in 228 countries and that Bahá'í literature has been translated into 130 languages. [MBW61–2] Statistics
    1954 Apr
    195-
    The site for the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the Holy Land was selected. [DH175; MBW63] Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Haifa; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Haifa, Israel first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Robert B. Powers, Jr., a member of the U.S. armed forces at the Navy Air Station, arrived in Guam and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Mariana Islands. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Guam; Mariana Islands
    1954 Apr
    195-
    John and Marjorie Kellberg of Oak Park, Illinois, arrived in the Dutch West Indies (Netherlands Antilles) and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Lesser Antilles
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Corporal Richard Walters and his wife, Evelyn, and Richard and Mary L. Suhm arrived in Tangier from the United States and were all named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tangier, Morocco; Morocco
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Howard Gilliland arrived in Labrador and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Labrador, NL
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Kay Zinky arrived in the Magdalen Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Magdalen Islands, QC
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Habíb Isfahání arrived in Dakar and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French West Africa. [BW13:452] Habib Isfahani; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Dakar, Senegal; French West Africa
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Benedict Eballa arrived in Ashanti Protectorate (Now part of Ghana) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449; BWNS249] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ashanti Protectorate, Ghana; Ghana
    1954 Apr
    195-
    The arrival of Knight Martin Manga to Northern Territories Protectorate (now part of Ghana). [BWNS249; BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Northern Territories Protectorate; Ghana
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Edward Tabe, a youth from Cameroon, no older than fourteen, and Albert Buapiah from the Gold Coast arrived in British Togoland and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450; KoB78-79; BWNS249] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Edward Tabe; Albert Buapiah; British Togoland (Ghana); Ghana
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Mrs Mehrangiz Munsiff pioneered to the city of Douala in the French Cameroons (later Cameroon). Both she and Mr Samuel Njiki were honoured as Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for this territory. [Bahá'í Journal UK Vol 20, No 5 Jan/Feb 2004, BW13:451; BWNS249]
  • For a photo see Bahá'í Media Bank.
  • Meherangiz Munsiff; Samuel Njiki (Samuel Nyki); - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Cameroon; Cameroon; Douala, Cameroon Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Cameroons
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Dr John Fozdar arrived in Brunei in April 1954 and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450]

    See Remembering Dr John Fozdar.

    John Fozdar; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Brunei
    1954 Apr
    195-
    A mere eight months after settling in British Cameroons, Enoch Olinga, along with the community of new believers at his pioneering post received a cable from Shoghi Effendi asking for African believers to settle in British Togoland, French Togoland, the Ashanti Protectorate and in the Northern Territories Protectorate before the following Ridván.

    Although Bahá'ís for only a few months, their response was instantaneous; the largest difficulty arose in limiting themselves to the four names required to fulfill the designated posts. This was determined by a vote. David Tanyi, Edward Tabe, Benedict Eballa, and Martin Manga were duly selected. Samuel Nyki was sent to French Cameroon. Each one established a Local Spiritual Assembly in their assigned posts within two years. [A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p4; KoB71]

    Pioneering; David Tanyi; Edward Tabe; Benedict Eballa; Martin Manga; Samuel Njiki (Samuel Nyki); Cameroon; British Togoland (Ghana); French Togoland (Togo); Ashanti Protectorate, Ghana; Northern Territories Protectorate
    1954 Apr
    195-
    The arrival of future Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, Mr. Enoch Olinga, in British Cameroon. [BWNS291] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Enoch Olinga; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); British Cameroon; - Africa
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Bahá'í women in Iran were accorded full rights to participate in membership of both national and local Bahá'í assemblies. [MBW65]
  • This removed the 'last remaining obstacle to the enjoyment of complete equality of rights in the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Persian Bahá'í Community'. [MBW65]
  • National Spiritual Assembly; Local Spiritual Assembly; Women; Equality; Iran
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Suhráb Paymán, together with his five-year old-daughter Ghitty, arrived in San Marino from Tihrán to join his wife. He was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh in April. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; San Marino, Italy
    1954 25 Mar
    195-
    Leland Jensen arrived on Réunion Island from the United States and ws named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]
  • He was later declared a Covenant-breaker.
  • Leland Jensen; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Covenant-breaking; Reunion Island; France
    1954 25 Mar
    195-
    The passing of Marion Jack (General Jack) (b. St. John, New Brunswick) at her pioneer post in Sofia, Bulgaria at the age of 87. She had been at her post since 1931. [BWNS385; Never be Afraid to Dare p. 227]
  • Shoghi Effendi called her 'a shining example to pioneers of present and future generations of East and West'. [CF163]
  • For her obituary see BW12:674–7.
  • See also BFA2155; MC359.
  • For a photo of her gravestone see CBNOct1972p.10.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles for a biography.
  • For a photo by the Bahá'ís of Sofia see BW5p464.
  • See also Marion Jack: Immortal Heroine by Jan Jasion
  • See CBN October1979 for tributes as well as a photo of her gravesite.
  • See The Early Years of the British Bahá'í Community (1898-1911) p128-129.
  • Marion Jack; Pioneers; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Pioneers; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sofia, Bulgaria; Bulgaria
    1954 21 Mar
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that there were Bahá'ís in 219 countries. [MBW57] Statistics
    1954 19 Mar
    195-
    Paul Haney was appointed Hand of the Cause of God following the death of Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker. [GBF111; MBW57] Paul Haney; Dorothy Baker; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
    1954 Mar
    195-
    Olivia Kelsey and Florence Ullrich (later Ullrich-Kelley), a young college graduate, and Olivia Kelsey, an accomplished Bahá'í author and poet, arrived in Monaco from the United States and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454; Collins 4.6 and 7.1359]

    A celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Bahá'í Faith in the Principality was held on 24-25 April 2004 at the Theatre des Varietes in Monte Carlo, and opened with the reading of a welcoming message from the National Council of the Principality. [Newspaper Archive on BLO]

  • See Bahá'í Chronicles for the story of the life of Florence Maria Ullrich Kelley (b. November 3, 1932 d. February 17, 2016)
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Monaco
    1954 4 Mar
    195-
    The arrival of Knights of Bahá'u'lláh Elena (Marsella) and Roy Fernie in Kiribati (Gilbert Islands). They had come from the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama. [BWNS301, BW13:452]
  • They had left their home in Panama and their service on the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama to pioneer. They arrived on the island of Abaiang (aka Charlotte Island, of the Gilbert Islands), on March 4, 1954 and for this service they were named Knights of Baha'u'llah. About the first of June 1954, former Catholic seminarian and mission teacher Peter Kanere Koru became the first convert on the island.
  • Their teaching work brought opposition from the Roman Catholic priest who told his congregation not to attend the Bahá'í meetings. He began to criticize them in the Roman Catholic newsletter and actually contributed to the knowledge of the Faith because the newsletter had a wide distribution.
  • The priest persisted in his opposition by informing his bishop who asked the government to send the Fernies away and to send Peter Kanere, a native Bahá'í, back to his native island of Tabiteuea. At the time, to be a registered religious organization required a membership of at least 100 believers so the government-approved sending the Fernies away however, in a single night some 300 people registered. A certificate of registration was issued on the 24th of September, 1955, but not before they managed to exile Roy Fernie. Elena continued the teaching work on her own and was responsible for firmly establishing the Faith on Abaiang.
  • Meanwhile, Peter Kanere, back on his home island, managed to teach a Protestant minister who was under discipline of his church at the time. Together they spread the Faith on Tabiteuea. [Island Churches: Challenge and Change by Makisi Finau page 101]
  • For more details on the life of Roy Fernie see Bahaipedia.
  • See also The Origins of the Bahá'í Faith in the Pacific Islands: The Case of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands by Graham Hassall.
  • And Bahá'í Faith in the Asia Pacific: Issues and Prospects also by Graham Hassall.
  • Elena Maria Marsella published The Quest for Eden in 1966.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tabiteuea, Kiribati; Kiribati; Gilbert and Ellice Islands first Bahá'í on Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)
    1954 Mar
    195-
    Qudratu'lláh Rawhání and Khudárahm Muzhgání arrived in Mahé and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mahé, India
    1954 1 Mar
    195-
    Shirin Fozdar visited Cambodia to receive the first medallion and Certificate of Satrei Vatthana (Champion of Women) from His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk. She was the first Bahá'í to enter the country.
  • She was not able to teach the Faith openly but she did speak about it to the king's parents.
  • Shirin Fozdar; King Norodom Sihanouk; Cambodia first medallion and Certificate of Satrei Vatthana (Champion of Women) recipient; first Bahá’í in Cambodia
    1954 1 Mar
    195-
    Alvin J. Blum and his wife, Gertrude (née Gewertz), arrived in Honiara and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Solomon Islands. They were accompanied by their eight-year-old daughter Keithie. [BW13:456; BWNS291] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Solomon Islands
    1954 Mar
    195-
    Greta Jankko arrived in the Marquesas Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] Greta Jankko; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
    1954 spring
    195-
    The Síyáh-Chál and some surrounding property was acquired by the Bahá'ís. [BW12:64–5; SE153; SS45]
  • The purchase cost was $400,000 which was contributed by a Persian believer Habib Sabet. [BW12:65; CBN No 53 June 1954 Insert p2] iiiii
  • Síyáh-Chál (Black Pit, Tehran); Purchases and exchanges; Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1954 21 Feb
    195-
    Charles ('Chuck') and Mary Dayton from the United States, settled in Charlotte Amalie, on St Thomas, and wre named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Leeward Islands. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; St. Thomas Island; Leeward Islands
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Shirin Fozdar arrived in Saigon, the first pioneer to Vietnam.
  • In June 1954, her daughter-in-law, Parvati Fozdar (wife of Jamshed Fozdar's) and their young son, Vilay, came to Saigon from the United States to help Ms. Shirin Fozdar. Jamshed Fozdar arrived on July 18, 1954. A month later. In August Ms. Shirin Fozdar returned to New Zealand. Mr. Jamshed Fozdar found employment and the family lived for a long time in a small apartment at 88 Le Loi Street (the old Bonard).
  • Pham Huu Chu was the first person to accept the Bahá'í Faith in Vietnam. [Bahá'í Religion in Community Education in Vietnam by Vu Van Chung]
  • Shirin Fozdar; Pioneer; Saigon, Vietnam; Vietnam first pioneer to Vietnam. first person to become a beliver in Viet Nam
    1954 15 Feb
    195-
    Charles Duncan (a musician and composer) and Harry Clark, both Americans, arrived in Brunei from Kota Kinabalu (Jesselton) in Sabah, where they had been waiting for several weeks, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451; PH63]
  • Later he pioneered to Thailand where he learned the language. See Servants of the Glory page 19
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Charles Duncan; Harry Clark; Brunei; Thailand
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Husayn Halabi arrived in Hadhramaut and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Hadhramaut, Arabian Peninsula; Yemen
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Elise Schreiber (later Lynelle) arrived on St Thomas Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] Elise Schreiber (later Lynelle); - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Sao Tome and Principe
    1954 10 Feb
    195-
    John Leonard arrived in the Falkland Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Falkland Islands
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir and Irán Muhájir arrived the Mentawai Islands and received the accolade "Knight of Bahá'u'lláh".[BS13p454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Hands of the Cause; Mentawai Islands; Indonesia
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Faríburz Rúzbihyán (Feriborz Roozbehyan) arrived in The Gambia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Gambia, The
    1954 Feb
    195-
    David Schreiber, an American, arrived in Antigua and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Leeward Islands. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Antigua; Leeward Islands
    1954 Feb
    195-
    John and Audrey Robarts their son Patrick and young daughter Tina arrived in Mafikeng and the three adults were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Bechuanaland (Botswana). [BW13:449]
  • Before the end of the year Dr Molema became the first declarant in the country. He gave the Robarts letters of introduction to six chiefs in the regions which opened many doors for teaching. [KoBp111]
  • John Robarts; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mafikeng, Botswana; Botswana; Dr Molema
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Gail Avery arrived in the Baranof Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Baranof Island, AK
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Bernard H. Guhrke arrived on the Kodiak Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Kodiak Islands, AK
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Joan Powis arrived in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Southern Rhodesia; Zimbabwe
    1954 Feb
    195-
    'Azízu'lláh and Shamsí Navídí with their daughters Vida and Giuilda arrived in Monaco and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]

    A celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Bahá'í Faith in the Principality was held on 24-25 April 2004 at the Theatre des Varietes in Monte Carlo, and opened with the reading of a welcoming message from the National Council of the Principality. [Newspaper Archive on BLO]

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Monaco
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Rahmatu'lláh and Írán Muhájir arrived in Mentawai Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454]
  • For the story of their pioneering activity see Muhájir, Dr Muhajir, Hand of the Cause of God, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • Rahmatullah Muhajir; Iran Muhajir; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Mentawai Islands; Indonesia
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Grace Bahovec arrived in the Baranof Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Baranof Island, AK
    1954 25 Jan
    195-
    Stanley P. Bolton, Jr. arrived in Nuku'alofa, on Tongatapu Island, from Australia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Tonga Islands. [BW13:456, BWNS286] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tonga
    1954 18 Jan
    195-
    Mrs Dulcie Burns Dive arrived in the Cook Islands from Australia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450, 925] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Cook Islands
    1954 15 Jan
    195-
    'Abdu'l-Rahmán Zarqání, from India, arrived in the Seychelles and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Seychelles; - Africa; India
    1954 14 Jan
    195-
    Lilian E. Wyss arrived in Apia from Australia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Samoa Islands. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Apia, Samoa; Samoa
    1954 Jan
    195-
    John and Audrey Robarts with their two younger children, Patrick and Tina, left Toronto for their pioneer post in Mafeking (later Mafikeng), Buchuanaland (later Botswana and formerly Bophuthatswana). Older children Aldham and Gerald pioneered to Nigeria and a homefront post respectively. [LOF485-6; CBN No48 January 1954 p11]
  • Later the same year he was appointed to the newly established Auxiliary Board by Hand of the Cause of God Músá Banání. They returned to Canada some 13 years later. [LOF486, 491]
  • John Robarts; Auxiliary board members; Canada; Botswana; Nigeria; - Africa
    1954 10 Jan
    195-
    Dorothy Baker, (b. Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, USA 21 December, 1898) Hand of the Cause of God, was killed in a plane crash in the Mediterranean Sea, near the island of Elba. BOAC Flight 781 departed Rome, Italy on a flight to London, England. While climbing through 27,000 feet, the plane experienced a sudden in-flight break-up and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near the Island of Elba. All 35 passengers and crew on board were killed. Following this accident, the Comet fleet was taken from service and subjected to numerous modifications in areas believed to have been the origin of the yet-unknown failure. The fleet was returned to service in late March 1954. [BW12:670; FAA Website]
  • In 1921 she married Frank Baker who had two motherless children. They had a girl and a boy of their own. [FMH73]
  • She was the granddaughter of Ellen "Mother" Beecher who took her to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in 1912. An early teacher (unnamed), after seeing the young girl, had a vision and asked Jináb-i-Fazil for an explanation. He replied that "someday she will become on of the great teachers of the Cause" and Mother Beecher began to pray that this would be fulfilled. [FMH73]
  • See FMH76-77 for the story of how Doris McKay was able to help Dorothy deal with her depression in 1929.
  • For the Guardian's cable see BW12:670, CF161.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • For her obituary see BW12:670–4.
  • See also Freeman, From Copper To Gold.
  • See TG229 for a short story about her and a comment from her on the Long Obligatory Prayer.
  • See Remembering Dorthy Baker at Bahá'í Blog.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • See article in the Canadian Bahá'í News No 46 February 1954 p1.
  • Find a grave.
  • Dorothy Baker; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Mediterranean Sea; Elba, Italy; Italy
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Andrew and Mina Matthisen arrived in the Bahamas and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahamas; Caribbean
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Kenneth and Roberta Christian arrived in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] Kenneth Christian; Roberta Christian; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Southern Rhodesia; Zimbabwe
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Virginia Breaks arrived on the island of Truk and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Caroline Islands. [BW13:450; MBW57] Virginia Breaks; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Truk, Caroline Islands; Caroline Islands
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Elizabeth Bevan (later Mrs Golmohammed) arrived in Rhodes and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Rhodes, Greece
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Munír Vakíl, a former general in the Iraqi army, settled on one of the Kuria-Muria Islands in the Arabian Sea and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453]
  • For the story of the hardships of his pioneering post see ZK99–101.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Khuriya Muriya Islands, Oman; Oman
    1954 Jan
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Abdu'l Rahman Zarqani, in the Seychelles. [BWNS272] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Seychelles; - Africa
    1954 3 Jan
    195-
    The passing of Helen "Nellie" Stevison French (b.19 Oct 1868 Peoria, Illinois) in Monaco. She was buried in the Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Chicago.

    In September 1953 Nellie French, 85, became the first Bahá'í to arrive in Monaco, but she passed away a few months later. For her act of service in bringing the Faith to the country, she received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.

    A celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Bahá'í Faith in the Principality was held on 24-25 April 2004 at the Theatre des Varietes in Monte Carlo, and opened with the reading of a welcoming message from the National Council of the Principality. [Newspaper Archive on BLO]

  • Evincing a marked talent for singing, Nellie left in 1888 for Naples, Italy, to develop that interest. The four-year residence abroad gave her the opportunity to learn the French and Italian languages, to acquire an appreciation of the Latin fine arts, and to master a strenuous course in training for the operatic stage. She suffered a case of typhoid fever in 1892 and returned to the United States to recuperate; but her recovery was followed by scarlet fever which impaired her vocal chords irreparably. Her aspirations for a musical career were ended.
  • In 1894 she married Stuart Whitney French, a childhood companion. About 1896, accompanied by her mother, she attended a few meetings at the home of Dr. Khayru'lláh. The spiritual seeds were sown. Moving to Arizona in 1900, Nellie French lived in Bisbee until 1904 and in Douglas until 1917. Her visits to Chicago and New York furnished a few Bahá'í contacts with meager information; the Bahá'í messages. Mrs. Isabella Brittingham went to Arizona in 1917 to teach the spiritual significance of the Bahá'í Faith offered Nellie a rare privilege. That experience confirmed Nellie who became the first resident Bahá'í teacher in Arizona.
  • Mr. and Mrs. French moved to Pasadena in 1918. During Riḍván, in April, 1921, Mr. and Mrs. French visited Haifa and 'Akká; that pilgrimage became the fulfillment of all her hopes.
  • She contributed to the literature of the Faith by her work from 1930 to 1946 as Chairman of the Bahá'í World Editorial Committee, during which time she assembled material for volumes IV—X. She translated into French and Italian the "Blue Book" and the brochure "Number 9," and for several years she wrote "Loom of Reality," a column published in the Pasadena Star-News. In 1931 she made permanent Braille plates for Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era and for the Kitdb-i-iqan. She served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada 1929 - 1938.
  • As an administrator, she served as Chairman of the Pasadena Spiritual Assembly from 1928 to 1938. For four years, ending in 1944 she was Chairman of the InterAmerica Committee, and in this capacity she presided at a session of the Centenary Celebration in 1944. Later she was a member of the European Teaching Committee. She helped support the work of the International Bureau at Geneva and the All-Indian project at Macy, Nebraska, undertaken by her sister-in-law, Mary Farley Stevison.
  • In April, 1952, thirty-one years to the day, Nellie French returned Mt. Carmel to meet the beloved Guardian in person. During the Holy Year which was also the first year of the World Spiritual Crusade, Nellie French settled in the principality of Monaco to win the accolade, "Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW12p700]
  • Find a grave.
  • Nellie French; - In Memoriam; Peoria, IL; United States (USA); Monaco; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh
    1954 3 Jan
    195-
    Howard and Joanne Menking arrived in the Cape Verde Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Cape Verde
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Charles M. Ioas arrived in the Balearic Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Balearic Islands, Spain
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Jean Sevin arrived in Tuamotu Archipelago and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:457] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia
    1954 Jan
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Dulcie Dive in the Cook Islands. [BWNS265] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Cook Islands
    1954 or 1955
    195-
    "The sacred dust of the Báb's infant son, extolled in the Qayyum-i-Asma, was respectfully and ceremoniously transferred on the anniversary of his Father's martyrdom, in the presence of pilgrims and resident believers to the Bahá'í cemetery in Shiraz, the prelude to the translation to the same spot of the remains of the Báb's beloved and long-suffering consort." [CBN No 65 June, 1955 p1]
  • The timing of the event is unclear. From the article, "the second year, second decade of the second century", it can be assumed that it took place on July 9th, 1955, however, the publication date was June, 1955.
  • Ahmad (son of the Báb); Shíráz, Iran; Iran
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Ted Cardell in South West Africa (now called Namibia). [BWNS280] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Namibia
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Violet Noehnke on the Admiralty Islands, now Manus Province in Papua New Guinea. [BWNS307, BWNS312] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The arrival in Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) of Knights of Bahá'u'lláh Izzat'u'llah Zahrai, Douglas Kadenhe, Nura Faridian (now Steiner), Enayat and Iran Sohaili, Shidan Fat'he-Aazam (later member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa) and his wife Florence. [BWNS275] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Zimbabwe; - Africa
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    Mehraban Isfandiar Sohaili arrived on Mayotte and stayed for two months, the first Bahá'í to visit the island. Mihriban Suhayli (Mehraban Sohaili); Mayotte first Bahá’í to visit Mayotte
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    Khodadad Irani settled in Zanzibar, the first Bahá'í to do so. Khodadad Irani; Zanzibar, Tanzania first Bahá’í pioneer in Zanzibar
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    José Mingorance Fernandez and his wife, Carmen Tost, a Spanish couple, accepted the Bahá'í Faith; they were the first to enrol in Andorra. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Andorra first Bahá’ís in Andorra
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    Mr and Mrs Sandikonda, Eliam Chisengalumbwe, Mr Musonda, Peter Chitindi and Elias Kanayenda became Bahá'ís, the first African Bahá'ís to enrol in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). BANANI BULLETIN, 1 AUG 1954] - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Zambia first African Bahá’ís in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia)
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    'Aynu'd-Dín and Táhirih 'Alá'í arrived in Southern Rhodesia and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Zimbabwe
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The first person to become a Bahá'í in the Balearic Islands, C. Miguel, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Islands; Balearic Islands, Spain first Bahá’í in Balearic Islands
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The first Tlinget from Alaska to become a Bahá'í, Eugene King, enrolled. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Alaska, USA; United States (USA) first Tlinget Bahá'í
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    The purchase of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Istanbul was concluded. [SS38] House of Bahá'u'lláh (Istanbul); Purchases and exchanges; Istanbul, Turkey; Turkey
    1953 27 Dec
    195-
    Gilbert and Daisy Robert, a French couple, become Bahá'ís in Madagascar, the first people to accept the Faith in the country. Gilbert Robert; Daisy Robert; Madagascar first Bahá'ís in Madagascar
    1953 19 Dec
    195-
    Yan Kee Leong became a Bahá'í, the first person to accept the Faith in Malaya. Yan Kee Leong; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; British Malaya; Malaysia first Bahá'í in Malaya
    1953 13 Dec
    195-
    A separate department for the Bahá'í Faith was established by the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs. [GBF137; PP 291; PP320] Recognition (legal); Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1953 8 Dec
    195-
    Loretta and Carl Scherer arrived in Macau from Milwaukee and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for that island. [BW13:453; PH73]
  • For the stories of their lives see BW18:738–40.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Macau
    1953 7 Dec
    195-
    Jalál Kházeh was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God after the passing of Hand of the Cause of God Siegfried Schopflocher. [GBF111–12; MBW55] Jalal Khazeh; Siegfried Schopflocher; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
    1953 Dec
    195-
    The arrival of Barbara Sims and her family, husband Sandy and daughter Sandra in Tokyo. [Barbara Sims' Contribution to Bahá'í Scholarship in Asia Pacific by Sandra S. Fotos; In memoriam Barbara Sims by Universal House of Justice, Sheridan Sims, and Sandra S. Fotos] Barbara Sims; Sandra Fotos; Tokyo, Japan; Japan
    1953 Nov or Dec
    195-
    The arrival, from Egypt, of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Labib Isfahani in Dakar, Senegal. He was followed by his brother Habib Isfahani in April of 1954 who also received the honour. [BW13:452, BWNS283] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Labib Isfahani; Habib Isfahani; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Senegal
    1953 Dec
    195-
    Adíb Baghdádí arrived in Hadhramaut and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Hadhramaut, Arabian Peninsula; Yemen
    1953 Dec
    195-
    Kay Khusraw Dahamobedi, Bahíyyih Rawhání and Gulbár Áftábí arrived on Diu Island and are named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Diu Island, India; India
    1953 Late in the year
    195-
    'Abdu'l-Karím Amín Khawja became a Bahá'í in Algeria, the first person to accept the Faith in that country. [BN No277 p8] - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Algeria; - Africa first Bahá'í in Algeria
    1953 Dec
    195-
    Jean and Tove Deleuran arrived in the Balearic Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh in December. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Jean Deleuran; Tove Deleuran; Balearic Islands, Spain
    1953 20 Nov
    195-
    The formation of the Israel Branch of the Bahá'ís of Canada. Canada; Israel; Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada
    1953 13 Nov
    195-
    Kámil 'Abbás arrived in the Seychelles from Iraq and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455; BWNS272]
  • For the story of his life see BW18:722–3.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Seychelles
    1953 11 Nov
    195-
    Ottilie Rhein (1903-79), an American of German origin, arrived in Mauritius and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the island. [BW13:454]
  • For the story of her life see BW18:703–5.
  • On her first expedition to provide necessities for living, she met the proprietor of a shop, Mr. Yim Lim, who became the first resident of the country to join the Faith. [BWNS274]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Ottilie Rhein; Yim Lim; Mauritius first Bahá'í in Mauritius
    1953 11 Nov
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the settling of a further contingent of Knights of Bahá'u'lláh in 21 virgin areas, bringing the number of territories open to the Faith to 200. [MBW52–3] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Statistics; Growth; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Worldwide
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Matthew W. Bullock of Boston, Massachusetts, arrived in the Dutch West Indies (Netherlands Antilles) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Lesser Antilles
    1953 Nov
    195-
    'Alí Akbar Rafí'í (Rafsanjání) and his wife, Sháyistih, and their 19-year-old son, 'Abbás, arrived in Tangier and all were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Morocco
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Husayn Rawhání Ardikání and his wife, Nusrat, arrived in Tangier with their daughter, Shahlá, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Husayn Rawhani Ardikani; Nusrat Ardikani; Sahla Ardikani; Tangier, Morocco; Morocco
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Dr Khodadad M. Fozdar, an Indian of Parsi background, arrived in the Andaman Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449]
  • For the story of his life see BW13:892–3.
  • Khodadad M. Fozdar; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India; India
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Dr Mihdí Samandarí arrived in Italian Somaliland and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452]
  • His wife Ursula (née Newman) arrived in 1954 and was also named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Somalia
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Samíra Vakíl arrived in Cyprus and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Cyprus
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Mary Olga Katherine Mills (née Bieymann) arrived in Malta and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Malta
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Tábandih Paymán arrived in San Marino and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh in November. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tabandih Payman; San Marino, Italy
    1953 Nov
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Dr. K. M. Fozdar on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. [PH57; BWNS271] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Gail and Gerald Curwin with their daughter Leeanna and Maurice and Ethel Holmes arrived in Nassau and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Bahamas Islands. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Gail Curwin; Ethel Holmes; Gerald Curwin; Maurice Holmes; Nassau, Bahamas; Bahamas
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Bertha Dobbins arrived in Port Vila on the island of Efate from Adelaide, Australia, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the New Hebrides Islands (Vanuatu). [BW13:454] Bertha Dobbins; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Efate, Vanuatu; Vanuatu
    1953 Oct
    195-
    'Amín Battáh, an Egyptian, arrived in Río de Oro (Western Sahara) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Amin Battah; Western Sahara; - Africa
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Max Kanyerezi, a Ugandan, was brought to Brazzaville by Violette and 'Alí Nakhjavání and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French Equatorial Africa. [BW13:451] Violette Nakhjavani; `Alí Nakhjavání; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Max Kanyerezi; Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo; French Equatorial Africa
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Albert Nyarko Buapiah became a Bahá'í in Ghana, the first Ghanaian to become a Bahá'í in the country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Albert Nyarko Buapiah; Ghana first Ghanaian Bahá’í
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Rolf Haug settled in Crete and iwa named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for that island. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Rolf Haug; Crete, Greece
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Dr Malcolm King, an American pioneer in Jamaica, arrived in British Guiana (now Guyana) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Malcolm King; British Guiana
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Shirley Warde arrived in British Honduras (Belize) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Shirley Warde; Belize
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Frederick and Jean Allen and Irving and Grace Geary arrived on Cape Breton Island and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Frederick Allen; Jean Allen; Irving Geary; Grace Geary; Cape Breton Island, NS
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Geertrui Ankersmidt arrived in the Frisian Islands and was named Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Gertrud Ankersmidt; Frisian Islands; Netherlands
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Zunilda de Palacios arrived on Chiloé Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Zunilda de Palacios; Chiloé Island, Chile; Chile; Latin America
    1953 29 Oct
    195-
    Gladys ('Glad') Irene Parke and Gretta Stevens Lamprill arrived in Papeete from Australia and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Society Islands, French Polynesia. [BW13:455]
  • For the story of Gladys Parke's life see BW15:457–8.
  • For the story of Gretta Lamprill's life see BW15:534–5. She was the inaugural secretary of the Hobart LSA, a secretary of the NSA of Australia and New Zealand and a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Society Islands. She was known as the "Mother of Tasmania".
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Papeete, French Polynesia; Society Islands, French Polynesia; French Polynesia
    1953 29 Oct
    195-
    Opal Jensen arrived on Réunion Island from the United States and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]
  • She was later declared a Covenant-breaker.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Covenant-breaking; Reunion Island; France
    1953 24 Oct
    195-
    Luella McKay, John and Erleta Fleming, and Alyce Janssen arrived in Spanish Morocco and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Luella McKay; John Fleming; Erleta Fleming; Alyce Janssen; Morocco
    1953 24 Oct
    195-
    Elsie Austin arrived in Tangier from the United States and Muhammad-'Alí Jalálí, an Iranian, also arrived. They were both named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] Elsie Austin; Muhammad-`Alí Jalálí; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tangier, Morocco; Morocco
    1953 20 Oct
    195-
    Frances Heller arrived in Macau and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the island. [BW13:453; PH73]
  • She was the first Knight of Bahá'u'lláh to settle in Chinese territory.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Frances Heller; Macau first Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to settle in Chinese territory
    1953 18 Oct
    195-
    George and Marguerite (Peggy) True arrived on Tenerif with their 12-year-old son Barry and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Canary Islands. [BW13:450; BW19p634] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; George True; Peggy True; Margarite True; Barry True; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Canary Islands, Spain
    1953 17 Oct
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Bertha Dobbins in Vanuatu. [BWNS256] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Vanuatu; Oceania
    1953 16 Oct
    195-
    Benjamin Dunham Weeden and his wife Gladys (née Anderson) arrived in Antigua and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Leeward Islands. [BW13:453]
  • For the story of Ben Weeden's life see BW15:478–9.
  • For the story of Gladys Weeden's life see BW18:692–6.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Antigua; Leeward Islands
    1953 15 Oct
    195-
    Eberhard Friedland arrived in French Guiana from the United States and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Guiana
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Enoch Olinga arrived in Victoria (Limbé) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the British Cameroons. [BW13:449]
  • The first Cameroonian to become a Bahá'í in British Cameroon was a youth, Jacob Tabot Awo.
  • The first Cameroonian adult to become a Bahá'í was Enoch Ngompek of the Bassa tribe.
  • The first Cameroonian woman to become a Bahá'í was Esther Obeu, the wife of David Tanyi.
  • Enoch Olinga; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Limbé, Camaroon; British Cameroon; Cameroon; Nigeria first Cameroonian youth Bahá’í; first Cameroonian adult Bahá’í; first Cameroonian woman Bahá’í
    1953 14 Oct
    195-
    Edith M. Danielsen arrived on Aitutaki Island, 150 miles north of Rarotonga, before leaving for Avarua, Rarotonga, five days later and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Cook Islands. [BW13:450]
  • For the story of her life see BW19:625–6.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Cook Islands
    1953 14 Oct
    195-
    Robert and Elinor Wolff arrived in Dutch Guiana and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Dutch Guiana (Suriname); Suriname
    1953 14 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the settling of 13 further Knights of Bahá'u'lláh, with 178 territories now open to the Faith. [MBW173] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Statistics; Growth; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Worldwide
    1953 13 Oct
    195-
    Esther Evans and Lillian Middlemast arrived in Castries, St Lucia, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Windward Islands. BW13:457] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Castries, St. Lucia; St. Lucia; Windward Islands
    1953 13 Oct
    195-
    Frederick and Elizabeth Laws arrived in Basutoland (Lesotho) and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449, BWNS262 ]
  • For the story of the life of Elizabeth Laws see BW17:459–60.
  • Chadwick Mohapi and his wife became the first Bahá'ís in Basutoland (Lesotho). [TG166]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Basutoland first Bahá'ís in Basutoland (Lesotho)
    1953 13 Oct
    195-
    Una Townshend arrived in Malta and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454, BWNS234] Una Townshend; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Malta
    1953 11 Oct
    195-
    Fawzí Zaynu'l-'Ábidín and his wife, Bahíyyih 'Alí Sa'di'd-Dín, and their sons Kamál and Sharíf arrived in Tetuán from Egypt and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Spanish Morocco. [BW13:456]
  • For the story of Fawzí Zaynu'l-'Ábidín's life see BW16:544–6.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Fawzi Zaynul-Abidin; Bahiyyih Ali Sadid-Din; Kamal Zaynul-Abidin; Sharif Zaynul-Abidin; Tétouán, Morocco; Morocco
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Elly Becking arrived in Dutch New Guinea and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Dutch New Guinea; Indonesia
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Salvador and Adela Tormo arrived on the Juan Fernandez Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile; Chile
    1953 7 – 15 Oct
    195-
    The Asian Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in New Delhi. [BW12:178; CBN No 50 Mar 1953 p6-7]
  • For Shoghi Effendi's message to the conference see BW12:178–81.
  • At the request of our beloved Guardian a memorial service was held for our dearly loved Hand of the Cause, Mr. Sutherland Maxwell. Loving tributes were paid to his memory by Mr. Remey and Mr. Giachery. [CBN No 50 Mar 1953 p6]
  • For a report of the conference see BW12:181–8.
  • This was the first international Bahá'í gathering ever to be held in the East. [BW12:181; SBR171]
  • It was attended by 489 Bahá'ís representing 31 countries. [BW 12:181]
  • The design for the International Bahá'í Archives was revealed to the Bahá'ís of the world for the first time at this conference. [DH168]
  • Following the New Delhi conference the Hands of the Cause and other visiting Bahá'ís travelled the length and the breadth of the country speaking in universities, teachers' training colleges, agricultural schools, theatres, hotels, Y.M.C.A.'s, at service clubs, and theosophical societies. Prominent citizens representative of the Hindu, Moslem and Christian faiths were chairmen at many of these meetings. There were numerous press conferences and wide-spread newspaper publicity. The Hands of the Cause were able to present Bahá'í books to world famous Indian scholars, to the family of the Maharaja of Indore and to representatives of the press. Perhaps never since Abdu'l·Bahá visited America has the Faith been presented in such a variety of places in so short a time. Dorothy Baker was one of the Hands who participated in this post-conference proclamation. [CBN No54 Jul 1954 p5]
  • Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Teaching; - First conferences; New Delhi, India; India; - Asia; International Archives Building (Haifa) first international Bahá’í gathering in the East
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Earle Render arrived in the Leeward Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Leeward Islands
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Richard and Lois Nolen and children Linda Jean, Cynthia and John arrived in the Azores and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13p449; Bahaipedia] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Richard Nolen; Lois Nolen; Azores
    1953 7 Oct
    195-
    William Danjon Dieudonné arrived in Andorra and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW12:449]
  • He continued to live in the country.
  • By 1979 Andorra had a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Andorra-la-Vella and three localities. [BN No 581 August 1979 p11]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Andorra; - Europe
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Marie Ciocca Holmlund arrived on Sardinia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Sardinia, Italy
    1953 4 Oct
    195-
    Una Townshend arrived at her pioneer post. It was planed that her father, Hand of the Cause George Townshend, accompany her to Malta where the warm climate might improve his health. He was not well enough to go so Una went alone. Unfortunately his illness advanced and Shoghi Effendi asked her to return home to care for him so she left at the end of 1954. Una and her brother Brian helped him to complete Christ and Bahá'u'lláh by writing down his dictations as he was dying from Parkinson's. Shoghi Effendi called the book Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend's 'crowning achievement'. [KoB359-360] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Malta
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Geraldine Graney arrived in the Hebrides and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Geraldine Graney; Hebrides
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Charles Dunning arrived in the Orkney Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] ul>
  • In probably it was October of 1954 Harold and Marzieh Gail depart from St Matthew's Quay in Aberdeen destined to pay a visit to Charles Dunning in Kirkwall. On the island the diminutive Charles Dunning is referred to as "a wee chappie". [OPOP55-59]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Orkney Islands, Scotland
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Lionel Peraji arrived in Mahé and is named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mahé, India
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Emma Rice, followed one week later by Knights Stanley and Florence Bagley and their three teenage children, Susan, Gerrold and Carol in Palermo, Sicily. [BWNS254] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sicily, Italy; Italy
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Claire Gung arrived in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. She spent 18 months in Salisbury (Harare) where she was a member of the first local spiritual assembly. [CG161] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Southern Rhodesia; Zimbabwe first spiritual assembly of Salisbury (Harare)
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb was completed. [BBD210; CB324–5; PP235; ZK85–6]
  • Marble for the Shrine of the Báb came from Chiampo, Italy as did marble for the Archives Building, the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Terraces Project, the Monument Gardens and the Houses of Worship in India and Samoa. It was cut and chiseled by a firm called Margraf, formerly known as Industria Marmi Vincentini. [BWNS1223]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá described the Shrine of the Báb as the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. [ABF18]
  • In a letter from the International Bahá'í Council dated the 2nd of May 1955, they reported on the great interest that has been taken in the Shrine of the Báb since the completion. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p1; BN 292 Jun 1955 p4]
  • Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Marble; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; Margraf; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel; Chiampo, Italy; Italy
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Muhammad Mustafá Sulaymán, an Egyptian, arrived in Spanish Sahara (Western Sahara) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. BW13:456]
  • For the story of his life see BW18:768–71.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Muhammad Mustafa Sulayman; Spanish Sahara
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Edmund ('Ted') Cardell arrived in Windhoek and wss named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for South West Africa (Namibia). [BW13:456]
  • He was later joined by his wife Alicia and the first German Bahá'ís to pioneer to Africa, Martin and Gerda Aiff and their children.
  • In 1955 Hilifa Andreas Nekundi, (also known as Tate Hilifa), was the first Namibian to become a Bahá'í. Mr. Nekundi later served on the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Windhoek, and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Namibia. [BWNS280]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ted Cardell; Alicia Cardell; Martin Aiff; Gerda Aiff; Hilifa Andreas Nekundi; Tate Hilifa; Windhoek, Namibia; Namibia first German Bahá’ís pioneers to Africa; the first Namibian to become a Bahá'í.
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Edith Danielson in the Cook Islands. [BWNS265] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Cook Islands; Pacific
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Katharine Meyer arrived on Margarita Island and was named Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Katharine Meyer; Margarita Island, Venezuela
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Ursula von Brunn arrived in the Frisian Islands and was named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] Ursula von Brunn; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Frisian Islands
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Helen Robinson arrived on Baranof Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Baranof Island, AK
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Mrs (Alexandra) Ola Pawlowska arrived in St Pierre and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Miquelon Island and St Pierre Island. [BW13:454] Ola Pawlowska; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; St. Pierre and Miquelon
    1953 30 Sep
    195-
    Manúchihr Hizárí and Hurmuz Zindih arrived in Tangier and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tangier, Morocco; Morocco
    1953 26 Sep
    195-
    The martyrdom of Rahmán Kulayní Mamaqání. He was stabbed by a ruffian in a mob. [BW12p710-711] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Mobs; Durúd, Iran; Iran
    1953 23 Sep
    195-
    Ted and Joan Anderson arrived in Whitehorse, Canada, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Yukon. [BW13:457] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ted Anderson; Joan Anderson; Whitehorse, YT; Canada
    1953 20 Sep
    195-
    Countries (in which) Bahá'ís residenow aggregate over (one) hundred fifty. over seventy (have been) added (in the) course (of the) nine years separating (the) first (and) second Jubilees. [From a letter from Shoghi Effendi CBN No 46 November 1953 p1] Statistics; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1953 20 Sep
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Mr. Max Kanyerezi in Middle Congo (now called Republic of Congo). At this time the country was, together with the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, and Gabon, part of a much larger French territory called the Federation of French Equatorial Africa which was dissolved in 1958. [BWNS246; A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p8]
  • Max and his wife Florence later moved back to Uganda where he had been raised. [CG106-107]
  • The website of the Bahá'ís of the Republic of the Congo gives a different date for the arrival of Max Kanyerezi...
      "Le premier bahá'í au Congo était Max Kanyerezi. Il fut déposé par Violette et Ali Nakhjavani en 1955." (Translation) "The first Bahá'í in Congo was Max Kanyerezi. He was dropped off by Violette and Ali Nakhjavani in 1955." [Reference]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Congo, Democratic Republic of; - Africa
    1953 18 Sep
    195-
    Dwight and Carole Allen arrived in Athens and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Greece. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Athens, Greece; Greece
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Hugh McKinley and his mother, Violet, arrived in Cyprus and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450]
  • Violet passed away in 1959 and she was laid to rest in Famagusta. Hugh remained in Cyprus until 1963. He died in Suffolk in 1999 was was buried in Lawshall, Suffolk. He had been born on the 18th of February, 1924.
  • See Ismael Velasco's paper entitled In Memoriam: Hugh McKinley.
  • See Life of Hugh McKinley, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh by Olive McKinley.
  • See Memoram: Hugh McKinley by Ismael Velasco.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Hugh McKinley; Violet McKinley; Ismael Velasco; Olive McKinley; Cyprus; Famagusta, Cyprus
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Elsa Grossman arrived in the Frisian Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] Elsa Grossmann; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Frisian Islands
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Diá'i'lláh Asgharzádih arrived in the Channel Islands and was named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Diaillah Asgharzadih; Channel Islands, UK
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Howard Snider arrived in Key West and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Key West, FL
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Dick Stanton arrived in Keewatin and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Keewatin, NT
    1953 12 Sep
    195-
    Nellie French arrived in Monaco and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454]

    Then 85, she was the first Bahá'í to arrive in Monaco, but she passed away a few months later. For her act of service in bringing the Faith to the country, she received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.

    A celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Bahá'í Faith in the Principality was held on 24-25 April 2004 at the Theatre des Varietes in Monte Carlo, and opened with the reading of a welcoming message from the National Council of the Principality. [Newspaper Archive on BLO]

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Monaco
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Cora Oliver arrived in British Honduras (Belize) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] Cora Oliver; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Belize
    1953 9 Sep
    195-
    José (d. 1985) and Hilda (née Summers) Xavier Rodrigues, a Portuguese-English couple, arrived in Bissau from Portugal as the first Bahá'í pioneers to Portuguese Guinea (Guinea Bissau) and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Portuguese Guinea; Guinea Bissau
    1953 9 Sep
    195-
    Rooho'llah Mavadatt arrived in Algeria as a pioneer. [BN No277 p8] Algeria
    1953 8 Sep
    195-
    Jameson and Gale Bond arrived in Arctic Bay in the District of Franklin and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451, SDSC127] Jameson Bond; Gale Bond; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Arctic Bay, NU; Franklin, QC
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Doris Richardson arrived on Grand Manan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Grand Manan Island, NB
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Julius Edwards arrived in the Northern Territories Protectorate (now part of Ghana) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Northern Territories Protectorate; Ghana
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Kathleen Weston arrived in the Magdalen Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Magdalen Islands, QC
    1953 Sep
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Enayat Sohaili in Nyasaland (now known as Malawi) [BWNS240] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Malawi; - Africa
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Brigitte Lundblade (nee Hasselblatt), (b. 1923 - d. 17 May 2008) arrived in the Shetland Islands and was later honoured with being named as Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [Bahaipedia] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Shetland Islands; Scotland; United Kingdom
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Ada Schott, Elizabeth Hopper, Sara Kenny and Ella Duffield arrived in the Madeira Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Madeira; Portugal; - Europe
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Evelyn Baxter arrived in the Channel Islands and was named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] Evelyn Baxter; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Channel Islands, UK
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Gertrude Eisenberg arrived in Las Palmas and is named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Canary Islands. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; Canary Islands, Spain
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Brigitte Hasselblatt arrived in Shetland and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Shetland Islands; Scotland; United Kingdom
    1953 28 Aug
    195-
    Mildred Clark, a pioneer in Norway, and Loyce Lawrence (née Drugan), a nurse and hospital matron, arrived in the Lofoten Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453]
  • Mrs Lawrence began teaching the Saami.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Sámi people; Lofoten Islands, Norway; Norway
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Pioneers began to arrive in Libya;
  • Mustapha Salem arrived in July and settled in Tripoli, [BN No 272 October 1953 p9}
  • Asia and Feridon Zein and their two children settled in Benghazi, [BN No 272 October 1953 p9}
  • Rizvaniyyih Iqrari pioneered to Benghazi, Libya on 10 September,
  • Mohsen Enayat pioneered within Libya from Tripoli to Feezan on the 26th of September,
    • SeeSETPE2 p63-66 for an account of Moshen's stay during which he was able to reach two provincial ministers including the Minister of Finance. He was forced to leave by the government after 10 months but was able to recruit Foad Rushdy from Egypt to replace him.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Ne'mat 'Abdu'l Wahid and Mr. Wahid's sister-in-law arrived in Tripoli, Libya in late September. [BN No 273 November 1953 p12-13]
  • Mrs. Laura Kelsey Allen arrived in Tripoli, September 3, 1953. [BN No 280 June 1954 p9]
  • As a result a Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Benghazi in 1953 and in November of the same year in Tripoli. . [BN No 274 December 1953 p2; BN No 280 June 1954 p10]
  • Mustapha Salem; Asia Zein; Feridon Zein; Rizvaniyyih Iqrari; Mohsen Enayat; Laura Kelsey Allen; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Mr and Mrs Nemat `Abdu'l-Wahid; Tripoli, Libya; Libya; Benghazi, Libya; Libya
    1953 26 Aug
    195-
    Ella Bailey (b. 16 December, 1864, Houston, Harris County, Texas) passed away in Tripoli, Tarabulus, Libya at the age of 88 years. [BW12:687]
  • She was elevated to the rank of martyr. [MBW170]
  • For the story of her life see PSBW131–42.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • For her obituary see BW12:685–8.
  • For information on her burial site and a short biography see Find-a-grave.
  • See Youtube video I Adjure Them - The Ella Bailey Story as told by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.
  • She had accompanied Mr and Mrs Rober Gulick in their settlement in Tripoli. [BN No 271 september 1953 p6]
  • Ella Bailey; Names and titles; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Tripoli, Libya; Libya; Houston, TX; Texas, USA; United States (USA)
    1953 (Late August)
    195-
    Soon after becoming a Bahá'í in Kampala, Enoch Olinga, together with fellow new believers Max Kanyerezi and Samson Mungono, responded to the Guardian's call and left his home in Uganda, to fulfill pioneering goals accompanied by Persian pioneers Ali and Violette Nakhjavání. Leaving in late August 1953 they traveled for almost 3 months, covering a distance of over 5000 kilometers.

    The first leg took them to Samson Mungono's post in Kamina, in the Katanga region of the Belgian Congo. They then took a grueling route to Brazzaville, where Max was dropped off and continued through the thick forests of French Congo and Gabon, hoping to pass through French Cameroons and finally reach the British Cameroons. The car broke down in the tropical forest of Gabon leaving the three remaining friends unable to continue. Enoch volunteered to walk to a town 50 miles ahead through the forbidding jungle to get help. Upon arrival Enoch was so ill he was hospitalized for two days and could not travel for a week. He told of a dream he had in which Shoghi Effendi took him in his arms to comfort and reassure him in his desperation. In mid-October they reached the British Cameroons on the very evening of the conclusion of the Holy Year.

    Confirmations of the monumental efforts these first African pioneers made soon followed: Enoch, Max and Samson all successfully brought many local people under the banner of the Greatest Name. [A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p4]

    Pioneering; Max Kanyerezi; Samson Mungono; `Alí Nakhjavání; Violette Nakhjavani; Congo, Democratic Republic of; Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo; Cameroon
    1953 14 Aug
    195-
    In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria it was stated that:
      He is Particularly anxious to have some of the German Bahá'ís enter the western territories of the Soviet Union not yet open to the Faith, namely: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, White Russia and Moldavia, and every effort should be made to enable some of the Bahá'ís, German or of other nationality, to go to these countries. The young people in particular may be able to arrange their affairs in such a way as to procure employment in the Soviet Union. This would be a great service, and is part of the work allotted to the German Bahá'ís under the World Crusade. [14 August 1953]
    Germany; Austria; Soviet Union; Moldavia
    1953 11 Aug
    195-
    Virginia Orbison arrived in the Balearic Islands from a pioneer post in Spain and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Balearic Islands. [BW13:449]

    It was neither her first nor her last pioneer experience. Between 1942 and 1946 she pioneered to Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. After World War II she went to Madrid, Spain where she helped raise the first local spiritual assembly and she did the same thing in Barcelona the following year.

    In July of 1953 she went to the Stockholm Intercontinental Teaching Conference where she offered to pioneer to Mallorca in one of the Balearic Islands, She stayed about one year before returning to Barcelona in August of 1954 where she attended the Iberian Teaching Conference that was attended by 60 people. Late that nine, she and nine others were arrested by the police and interrogated for 18 hours. They had thought that the Bahá'í were Communists.

    In 1956 she moved to Portugal where she was elected to the first Iberian Regional Spiritual Assembly. After three years she was forced to leave by the authorities because of her Bahá'í activities, holding property and owning a telephone.

    She was asked to go to Luxembourg where she spent nine years but made little progress in establishing the Faith. She was then asked to got to Malaga, Spain and by 1972 Malaga had a local spiritual assembly so she pioneered to Margella in 1979.

    The National Spiritual Assembly asked her to write a history of the Faith in Spain which was completed in 1980.

    As was her wish, she passed to the Abha Kingdom in 1985, still a pioneer. [KoB346-347; Wikipedia]

    See also Also see Bahá'í World 19 pages 715-721 or 692-697 in the print version and Bahá'í News #586 January 1980 p2-5.

    Virginia Orbison; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Balearic Islands, Spain; Spain; Chile; Argentina; Bolivia; Peru; Ecuador; Brazil; Mallorca, Spain; Spain; Portugal; Luxembourg
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Udai Narain Singh arrived in Sikkim and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455; PH63] Udai Narain Singh; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Sikkim, India; India
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Edythe MacArthur arrived in the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455; BWIM143-145] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Queen Charlotte Island, BC
    1953 Jul - Aug
    195-
    Amín and Sheila Banání, a Persian-American couple, settled in Athens-Kifissia in August 1953 and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Greece. [BW452]
  • They were able to stay in Greece until 1958 when they were asked to leave by the government. [from an interview with Sheila Banani 10 November, 2022 on Thursday Night @7]
  • See Professor Amin Banani, 1926–2013: A Prominent Scholar of Iranian Studies by Ehsan Yarshater in Iranian Studies, 2014, Vol 47 No 2 p347-351 for an obituary of Amin Banani.
  • Amin Banani; Sheila Banani; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - In Memoriam; Athens, Greece; Greece
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Salísa Kirmání and Shírín Núrání arrived in Karikal and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Karikal, India
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Amír Húshmand Manúchihrí arrived in Liechtenstein and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Liechtenstein; - Europe
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Shiyam Behari arrived in Pondicherry and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Pondicherry, India; India
    1953 2 Aug
    195-
    Fred Schechter, an American, arrived in Djibouti and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French Somaliland. [BW13:451]
  • Mr Schechter went on to pioneer to several Latin American countries, he spent thirteen year on the Continental Board of Councillors for the Americas and served on the International Teaching Centre. He passed away on 27 January 2017 in California, U.S.A. He was 89 years old. [BWNS1149]
  • See In Memoriam Fred Schechter: Bahá'í House of Worship Memorial Program.
  • Fred Schechter; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Counsellors; International Teaching Centre, Members of; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); French Somaliland; Djibouti, East Africa
    1953 Aug
    195-
    'Abbás Vakíl arrived in Cyprus and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cyprus
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Shawkat Nahví arrived in Pondicherry and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Pondicherry, India; India
    1953 Aug
    195-
    The Congo-Belgian colony had its first believers, identified under the term "The Spiritual Sowers". The story begins with Louis Selemani Bin Kimbulu (the first person to accept the Faith) and Sébastien Ilunga Ngoy Buanga Tumba, two Congolese bank officials who were living and working in neighbouring Burundi, where they received, from a servant working for a Western expatriate, a book of Bahá'í prayers which they did not hesitate to liken to a grimoire. Finding it interesting, they sent a letter for further clarification regarding the nature of the prayers to the Bahá'í Publishing House which published the book.

    In response to their correspondence, an American Bahá'í living in Usumbura, present-day Bujumbura, went to meet these two men. Some time after they met, and after conducting the independent search for Truth, they decided to become Bahá'ís. This is how they began to spread the "new message" to their other colleagues at the Bank, all Congolese living in eastern DRC.

    Very quickly, these two young bankers succeeded in finding souls receptive to the message of the Bahá'í teachings. They were 19 in all and constituted the nucleus called "Spiritual Sowers", the founders of the Faith in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [bahai.org; bahai.org; A Remarkable Response Film 4:18]

    Louis Selemani Bin Kimbulu; Sébastien Ilunga Ngoy Buanga Tumba; Bujumbura, Burundi; Congo, Democratic Republic of first believers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
    1953 27 Jul
    195-
    Siegfried (Fred) Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Montreal and was buried beside the grave of Sutherland Maxwell in Mount Royal Cemetery. He was born in Landkreis Fürth, Germany 26 September 1877. [BW12:664-666, LOF390, TG119, CBNS 24 July 2014, Bahá'í Chronicles, SCRIBD, Schopflocher, Siegfried (1877–1953) by Will C. van den Hoonaard]
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii]
  • See TG32, 228 and LoF384-390 for short biographies.
  • Bahá'í Encyclopedia for a biography written by Will van den Hoonaard.
  • See Schopflocher, Siegfried by Will C. van den Hoonaard.
  • For his obituary see BW12:664–6.
  • He was known as the "Temple Builder" because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West. [BW12:664-666]
  • For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • Find a grave.
  • Siegfried Schopflocher; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Montreal, QC; Canada
    1953 21 – 26 Jul
    195-
    The European Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in Stockholm. [BW12:167; CBN No 46 November, 1953 p4; CBN No 47 December 1953 p6; CBN No 49 February 1954 p3]
  • For Shoghi Effendi's message to the conference see BW12:167–71.
      In it he called for "the opening of the following thirty virgin territories and islands: Albania, Crete, Estonia, Finno-Karelia, Frisian Islands, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Rumania, White Russia, (Belarus) assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany and Austria; Channel Islands, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Hebrides Islands, Malta, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles; Andorra, Azores, Balearic Islands, Lofoten Islands, Spitzbergen, Ukraine, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America; Liechtenstein, Monaco, Rhodes, 160 San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Italy and Switzerland". [MBW157]
    • For a report of the conference see BW12:171–8.
    • Fourteen Hands of the Cause were present. [BW12:171]
    • 374 Bahá'ís from 30 countries attended, of these 110 come from the ten goal countries. [BW12:171]
  • Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Teaching; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Stockholm, Sweden; Sweden; - Europe
    1953 Jul
    195-
    Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell arrived in the Aleutian Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] Jenabe Caldwell; Elaine Caldwell; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Aleutian Islands, AK
    1953 Jul
    195-
    Jack Huffman and Rose Perkal arrived on the Kodiak Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Kodiak Islands, AK

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