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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 192-, sorted by event description, descending

date event tags firsts
1920 27 Apr
192-
`Abdu'l-Bahá was invested with the insignia of the Knighthood of the British Empire as Sir Abbas Effendi in a ceremony in Haifa. [AB443; BBRXXX, 343-5; CH214; DH149; GPB306; The Glorious Journey by Craig Weaver and Helen Bond p19]
  • For the document recommending `Abdu'l-Bahá for knighthood, see BBR344.
  • The knighthood was in recognition of `Abdu'l-Bahá's humanitarian work during the war for famine relief. [AB443]
  • He accepted the honour as a gift from a `just king'. [AB443]
  • He did not use the title. [AB443]
  • For Lady Blomfield's account see AB443-4 and CH214-15.
  • See SoW vol 13 No 11 p298.
  • See Senn McGlinn's Abdu'l-Baha's British knighthood.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Knighthood (KBE); Abu-Sinan, Israel; Charity and relief work; Haifa, Israel; Israel; Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; Palestine; Social and economic development; United Kingdom; World War I
    1920 Jan
    192-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote a Tablet to a group in Chile. [SWAB:246-50] * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; Chile
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    'Abdu'l-Hamid Khemiri arrived in Haifa from Tunis. He was the first from that country to make a pilgrimage. [BWNW1577] - Bahá'í World Centre; Pilgrims; Tunis, Tunisia; Tunisia First pilgrim from Tunisia.
    1921 21 Sep
    192-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote a 4,000 word Tablet for Dr Auguste Forel in response to a letter He received from him. The Tablet can be found at bahai.org, as well as in The Bahá'í World Vol. XV, pp. 37–43.

    Shoghi Effendi wrote of this Tablet: [GPB307]

      The famous scientist and entomologist, Dr. Auguste Forel, was converted to the Faith through the influence of a Tablet sent him by 'Abdu'l‑Bahá—one of the most weighty the Master ever wrote.
  • See The Kingdom of Existence by Dr Ali Murád Dávudí. In addition to Dr. Forel´s biography and the text of the tablet addressed to him by Abdu´l-Bahá, contains Dr. Dávúdí's extensive studies of the tablet, as well as a glossary of terms that offers more explanations about its contents.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; `Alí Murád Dávúdí; Auguste Forel; Haifa, Israel; Tablet to Dr. Auguste Forel
    1923 Ridván
    192-
    "...Ridvan messages: As early as 1923 Shoghi Effendi sent a letter of encouragement and greeting to the American national Bahá'í convention at Ridvan. It became his regular practice to write a Ridván letter to the Bahá'ís of the world summarizing the progress of the Faith in the previous year and setting out general directions for the coming year. The Universal House of Justice has continued this practice. Other Bahá'í institutions, especially national spiritual assemblies, also sometimes issue Ridvan letters." [SA241] - Bahá'í World Centre; Ridván messages
    1922 9 Apr
    192-
    Work commenced on the Western Pilgrim House. [PP69] Haifa, Israel; Pilgrim House, Western (Haifa); Pilgrim Houses
    1929 14 Feb
    192-
    Work began on the three additional chambers of the Shrine of the Báb after the rock had been excavated from behind the building during the previous year. [DH154]
  • Haji Mahmúd Qassabchí, the builder who had completed the repairs on the House of Bahá'u'llah in Baghdad was chosen to be in charge of the work. Shoghi Effendi later designed one of the doors to the Shrine as "Báb-i-Qassabchi" in his honour. The remaining two doors were named after Sutherland Maxwell, the architect of the superstructure, and ego Giachery who had served as liaison with the various Italian marble companies involved. The door to the octagon was named after Leroy Ioas who overlooked much of the work on the Shrine. [CEBF320]
  • Originally the centre room had been separated by wooden walls and doors. These were removed and replaced by archways. [SETPE1p164]
  • These rooms, when completed, are used as the International Bahá'í Archives. There was a second repository of the archives at this time near the resting place of the Greatest Holy Leaf. [GPB347]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Hájí Mahmud Qassabchi; International Bahá'í Archives; Mount Carmel
    1929 11 Feb
    192-
    William 'Harry' Randall, (b. 1863), passed away in Medford, MA. After his death, Shoghi Effendi named him one of the 19 Disciples of Abdu'l-Baha, a "Herald of the Covenant". [BBD71]
  • For his obituary written by Shoghi Effendi see BW3:213.
  • For his biography see William Henry Randall: Disciple of Abdu'l-Baha by his daughter Bahiyyih Randall-Winckler, with M. R. Garis.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; Massachusetts, USA; Medford, MA; William Harry Randall
    1922 9 Jan
    192-
    William H. Hoar, Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá, passed away in Fanwood, New Jersey. [SW12, 19:310]
  • For his obituary see SW12, 19:310-12.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; Fanwood, NJ; New Jersey, USA; United States (USA); William Hoar
    1929 4 May
    192-
    When the British Mandate in Palestine had been set up, an Order-in-Council had been enacted that allowed each of the recognized religious communities to be administered in all affairs of personal status according to their own religious laws and courts. The Bahá'í community had not, however, been accorded this "recognized" status and was thus compelled to submit to the Muslim Courts. In 1929 Shoghi Effendi asked Mountfort Mills to raise the matter with the authorities and the Bahá'í Community of Haifa formally petitioned the government that the Bahá'í laws on personal status be recognized in Palestine. [BBR459; PP284]
  • Recognition was granted later in the year. [BBR459; DH116; PP284]
  • Haifa, Israel; Palestine; Recognition (legal)
    1924 9 Mar
    192-
    Two Bahá'ís were imprisoned for several months in Marághih, Iran, after two mullás stirred up trouble against the Bahá'ís. [BW18:388] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; Iran; Maraghih, Iran
    1921 Mar
    192-
    Two Bahá'í publications began, Sonne der Wahrheit, meaning Sun of Truth, and Wirklichkeit, meaning Reality. [BWNS1289; German Bahá'í website archive] * Publications; - First publications; - Periodicals; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Germany; Sonne der Wahrheit (Sun of Truth); Wirklichkeit (Reality) first Baha'i publications in Germany
    1926 2 and 4 Aug
    192-
    Two Bahá'í Esperanto conventions were held in conjunction with the Eighteenth Universal Esperanto Congress in Scotland. [BW2:266] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Other; Esperanto; Scotland; United Kingdom
    1922 Apr
    192-
    To the United States and Canada Shoghi Effendi sent a message to transform the 'Executive Board' into a legislative institution. [CB293; CT160; ER211-12; PP56]
  • It had been functioning since 1909 concerned mostly with the construction of the Bahá'í House of Worship.
  • This year the elected members of the Executive Board Bahá'í Temple Unity were: Mountfort Mills. Annie L. Parmerton. Bernard M. Jacobsen. Arthur S. Agnew. Corinne True. William H. Hoar. Joseph H. Hannen. Roy C. Wilhelm.
  • He addressed his first letter to this body as the "National Spiritual Assembly of the United States" on December 23rd however in God Passes By pg333 he stated that the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States was not formed until 1925. [SETPE1p107, CT160, CoB293]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Bahá'í Temple Unity; Chicago, IL; Executive Board of the Bahá'í Temple Unity; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; National Spiritual Assemblies; Spiritual Assemblies; United States (USA)
    1926 29 Jun
    192-
    Three Bahá'ís were martyred in Zavárih, near Isfahán. [BW18:388] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Zavarih, Iran
    1925
    192-
    There were 43 local spiritual assemblies in North America by this date. [BBRSM121] Local Spiritual Assemblies; North America; Statistics; United States (USA)
    1921 - 1936
    192-
    The years 1921 to 1936 were labelled by the Guardian as a "Period of Preparation" during which there were no concerted plans of action assigned to national communities.

    "Its initiation, (The Tablets of the Divine Plan) officially and on a vast scale, had, for well nigh twenty years, been held in abeyance, while the processes of a slowly emerging administrative Order, were, under the unerring guidance of Providence, creating and perfecting the agencies for its efficient and systematic prosecution." [WOB78]

    * Teaching Plans; Period of preparation (1921-1936)
    1928 27 Aug
    192-
    The word 'Bahá'í' was registered with the United States Patent Office as a trademark. [BW6:348] Copyright and trademarks; United States (USA); United States Patent Office
    1920 Sep
    192-
    The tombs of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs in Isfahán were demolished by a mob. [BBR437; LB94]
  • For Western responses see BBR437-9.
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution, Mobs; Cemeteries and graves; Iran; Isfahan, Iran; King of Martyrs and Beloved of Martyrs; Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (King of Martyrs); Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn (Beloved of Martyrs)
    1928 to 1938
    192-
    The third Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh was Hájí Ghulám-Ridá (entitled Amín-i-Amín) (Trustee of the Trustee). He had been Hájí Amín's assistant for several years and so was chosen to succeed him. He had been born into the wealthy merchant class in Tehran. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985]
  • During his tenure steps were taken to register Bahá'í properties and endowments in Iran.
  • He died due to an illness. [BW8p659]
  • Photo of his grave. [BW9p77]
  • - Biography; Hájí Ghulam-Rida (Amin-i-Amin); Huqúqu'lláh; Huququllah, Trustees of; Iran; Tehran, Iran
    1927 29 Apr - 1 May
    192-
    The third National Convention of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada was held at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal, the hotel where 'Abdu'l-Bahá stayed during His visit in 1912. [Bahá'í News No. 17 April, 1927]
  • It was attended by 32 of the 95 elected delegates, others voting "by wire".
  • Those elected to the National Spiritual Assembly were: Allen McDaniel, chairman; Roy C. Wilhelm, vice-chairman; Horace Holley, secretary; Carl Scheffler, treasurer: Mesdames Florence R. Moron, May Maxwell and Amelia Collins, Messrs. Alfred E. Lunt and Louis G. Gregory. This reference contains a very complete report of the Convention including letters from the Guardian. [BN No 18 June 1927 p2-9]
  • See FMH41-42.
  • A major subject of which was race relations. Edwina Powell spoke on the subject, as she had been asked by Shoghi Effendi. In her address, Sadie Oglesby recalled her conversations with Shoghi Effendi on the subject of race. [TMW178–80]
  • Alfred Lunt; Allen B. McDaniel; Amelia Collins; Canada; Carl Scheffler; Conventions, National; Edwina Powell; Florence R. Moron; Horace Holley; Louis G. Gregory; May Maxwell; Montreal, QC; Quebec, Canada; Roy C. Wilhelm; Sadie Oglesby; United States (USA)
    1927 10 - 11 Nov
    192-
    The third convention for amity in inter-racial relations in Washington was held in the Mt. Pleasant Congregational Church. [BW2p285; SYH146] Conferences, Race Amity; Race; Race amity; Race unity; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1924 Nov
    192-
    The Supreme Court of Iraq decided against the Bahá'ís in the dispute over the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád. [UD37-8; BN No 9 Dec 1925/Jan 1926 p1] - Persecution; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq; Persecution, Iraq
    1925 Jan
    192-
    The Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria was established, the second assembly to be formed in Africa. - Africa; Alexandria, Egypt; Local Spiritual Assemblies first Spiritual Assembly in Alexandria
    1922 21 Apr
    192-
    The Shrines of Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb were electrically illuminated for the first time. [PP69]
  • For the story of this project see He Loved He Served.
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahji, Israel; Electrification of the Shrines; Light; Mount Carmel
    1921 Feb
    192-
    The Shi'a petition for the possession of the House in Baghdád was granted and the Bahá'is were evicted. [SETPE1p25] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1926 6 Aug
    192-
    The Shah of Iran was asked to "stay the slaying of Bahá'ís." The Press notice of the appeal to the Shah to protect Bahá'ís from persecution was published August 9th. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p26] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Sháh; Iran
    1925 4 Jul – 9 Jul
    192-
    The Seventeenth Annual Convention of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada was held at Green Acre. [GAP117; SBR94]
  • National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada was elected for the first time. The National Assembly superseded the institution of Bahá'í Temple Unity formed during `Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry. [GPB333; SETPE1p107]
  • Like the previous attempts at electing a National Assembly in 1922, 1923 and 1924, the delegates didn't fully understand the Bahá'í election procedure. Nine members were elected as well as nine alternates whose purpose was to replace absent members at meetings. Those elected as members were: Horace Holley, (sec), Montfort Mills, (Chair), Florence Morton (tres.), Siegried Schopflocher, Roy Wilhelm, Alfred Lunt, (vice and asst. treas), Elizabeth Greenleaf, May Maxwell, Agnes Parson. [BN No 4 April 1925 p2]
  • Subsequently it was announced that the following persons were members of the National Assembly: Horace Holley, (Sec'y), Mountfort Mills, (chair) Florence Morton, (Treas.), Fred Schopflocher, Roy Wilhelm,(Vice), Allen McDaniel, Carl Scheffler, Ali Kuli Khan, and Amelia Collins. [BN No 6 July-August 1925 p2, 5]
  • Another ballot was taken for alternatives to those elected and selected were: Alfred Lunt, Agnes Parsons, William Randall, May Maxwell, George Latimer, Louis Gregory, Elizabeth Greenleaf, Mariam Haney and Keith Ransom-Kehler. [BN No 6 July-August 1925 p5]
  • The offices of the National Spiritual Assembly were located in 169 Christopher Steet, New York at this time. [BN No 4 April 1925 p2]
  • `Alí Kulí Khán; Allen B. McDaniel; Amelia Collins; Carl Scheffler; Conventions, National; Florence Morton; Fred Schopflocher; Green Acre Bahá’í School; Horace Holley; Mountfort Mills; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada; Roy C. Wilhelm first National Spiritual Assembly of United States and Canada; first full-time secretary NSA United States and Canada
    1924 Jul
    192-
    The second local spiritual assembly in Australia was formed in Perth. Australia; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Perth, Australia
    1921 5-6 Dec
    192-
    The second Convention for Amity between the White and Coloured Races was held in Springfield, Massachusetts. [BW2:282; SBR92; SYH113-114, 126]
  • Over a thousand people attended. [SW13, 3:51]
  • For a report of the convention see SW13, 3:51-5, 601.
  • For a photograph see SW13, 3:50.
  • Conferences, Race Amity; Massachusetts, USA; Race; Race amity; Race unity; Springfield, MA; United States (USA)
    1927 8 - 10 Apr
    192-
    The second conference for racial amity in Washington was held at the Mt Pleasant Congregational Church with the cooperation and participation of other like-minded groups and persons. [BW2p284]
  • Members of the Race Amity committee were Louis Gregory; Agnes Parsons, Sia Baghdad, Alain Locke and Pauline Hannen. [SYH146]
  • Other conferences were held inNew York state, in Portsmouth, NewHampshire, with monthly amity meetings in Boston and a second one in Washington in November. [SYH146]
  • Conferences, Race Amity; Race; Race amity; Race unity; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of The Divine Art of Living by Mary M Rabb. It had been serialized in Star of the West from Vol 7 No 16 (Dec 31, 1916) to Vol 8 No 13 (Nov 4, 1917) and later in World Order Vol 1 No 1 April 1940 to Vol 6 No 1 April, 1940. In 1924 was published in a leather bound volume and was reprinted in 1926 by Brentan's of New York. [Collins3.39 - 3.40]
  • The full text of the book is available online.
  • Divine Art of Living (book); Mary Rabb; New York City, NY
    1928 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Bahá'í Administration, a collection of communications to the American Bahá'í community from the Guardian between 1922 and 1929. Revisions were published in 1933, 1936, 1941 and 1945. Additional messages and an expanded index was added in 1968. [WOBpv, BAiv]

    "His letters to Bahá'í institutions and to Bahá'ís in general began almost at once, and many will be found in Bahá'í Administration, beginning January 21, 1922. Early or late, his communications were not merely writings, they were the dynamic that moved the Bahá'í world. These letters in effect built the Administrative Order, its most vital features being found there. They taught the Bahá'í Assemblies how to be, how to consult, what their duties were. The book also contains the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws drawn up by the international lawyer Mountfort Mills, carefully reviewed by Shoghi Effendi, and adopted in 1926 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, at this time under one jurisdiction. (Khan, back in America by then. Shoghi Effendi wished all National Spiritual Assemblies to adopt, with necessary local adaptations, this Declaration of Trust and ByLaws, which set forth the character and objectives of Bahá'í communities worldwide." [Cited from AY304]

    * Publications; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Administrative Order; Bahá'í Administration (book); Declaration of Trust and By-laws; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Mountfort Mills; National Spiritual Assemblies; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; Shoghi Effendi, Writings of
    1925 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of The Universal Consciousness of the Bahá'í Revelation by Charles Mason Remey. It was described as a brief treatise introductory to the study of the Bahá'í Revelation. * Publications; Charles Mason Remey
    1923 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Bahai Manuscripts. Suggestions for Their Preservation and Arrangement by Charles Mason Remey. This publication had the approval of the National Bahá'í Archives Committee of America and the National Bahá'í Reviewing Committee of America. Archives; Charles Mason Remey; Manuscripts; Newport, RI
    1923 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Bahá'í Indexes: Suggestions for the Arrangement of a Bibliography and Reference Indexes of the Bahá'í Teachings with Practical Explanations How to Build Up Baha'i Index Systems by Charles Mason Remey with the approval of the National Spiritual Assembly. - Bibliography; - Indexes and catalogues; Charles Mason Remey; East Lansing, MI
    1925 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of A Series of Twelve Articles Introductory to the Study of the Bahá'í Teachings Treating briefly of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, History, Organization, Religious and Secular Doctrines and Institutions by Charles Mason Remey. It was published by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee of New York. 184p. * Publications; Charles Mason Remey; New York, USA; New York, USA
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Abdul Baha's First Days in America from the Diary of Juliet Thompson by Juliet Thompson. Note that portions of these extracts differ from The Diary of Juliet Thompson published in 1983 by Kalimat Press. * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Diary of Juliet Thompson; East Aurora, NY; Juliet Thompson; Pilgrims notes
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Episodes in the Life of Moneereh Khanum. Moneereh Khanum translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab by the Persian American Publishing Company.
  • It is a short autobiography by the wife of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. A more complete translation was published in 1986 by Kalimat Press entitled Munirih Khanum, Memoirs and Letters, translation by Sammireh Anwar Smith.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Munirih Khanum
    1929 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Abdul Baha in Egypt by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab for the New History Foundation. The publication was approved by the publishing committee of the National Spiritual Assembly. `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; East Lansing, MI; Mirza Ahmad Sohrab
    1921 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Bahai: The Spirit of the Age by Horace Holley. It was published in New York by Brentano's Publishers. * Publications; Bahá'í, The Spirit of the Age; Horace Holley; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of The Book of Assurance (The Book of Ighan) translated by Ali Kuli Khan with assistance from Howard MacNutt published by Brentano's Publishers for the Bahá'í Publishing Committee in New York. It was published a second time in 1929. [Collins1.10-11] `Alí Kulí Khán; Howard MacNutt; Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude); New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1921 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Abdul Baha in London; Addresses, & Notes of Conversations (American edition). Published by the Bahai Publishing Society in Chicago. Chicago, IL
    1922 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l‑Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Compiled by Howard MacNutt. Volume 2 was published in 1922 followed by Volume 2 in 1925. Volume 1 was published by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee in Chicago and Volume 2 by the same committee operating out of New York. [Collins3.98]
  • From the preface to the 1922 edition..."This treasury of His words is a compilation of informal talks and extemporary discourses delivered in Persian and Arabic, interpreted by proficient linguists who accompanied Him, and taken stenographically in both Oriental and Occidental tongue."
  • From the same preface is a letter from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Howard MacNutt dated 13 April, 1919 approving his idea to publish the compilation of His talks in America and urging him to be most careful to reproduce the exact text as well as promising an "effulgent face" in the Abhá Kingdom as well as the praise and gratitude of the friends.
  • And again from the same source is a letter from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Albert Windust written on the 20th of July, 1919 asking him to name the book The Promulgation of Universal Peace and to direct that the Introduction must be written by Howard MacNutt. Prior to His coming to America the friends were unclear about His station and their differences in understanding was a major source of disunity. On one extreme were those who believed that 'Abdu'l-Baha was a man who, through the application and complete obedience to the Faith, had earned a high station, like Christ's disciple Peter, implying that others could do the same. In the other camp were those who insisted that He was the return of Christ. Little wonder that they were confused because never in religious history had there been someone like 'Abdu'l-Bahá, one Who held the station of "The Mystery of God". Howard's failure to understand 'Abdu'l-Bahá's station and disobedience to Him and taken him precariously close to the company of Covenant-breakers but through 'Abdu'l-Bahá's unfailing love and guidance he was able to come to a true understanding. The Introduction to the 1922 edition was his testament to the station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [DJT369-372]
  • The Promulgation of Universal Peace, although not "scripture", could be compared to Some Answered Questions in that it is a carefully transcribed record of His talks. Unlike that publication where He answered questions, in The Promulgation of Universal Peace it was 'Abdu'l-Bahá who chose the subject. Upon arrival in New York He said, "It is my purpose to set forth in America the fundamental principles of the revelation and teachings of Bahá'u'lláh." [PUPxii]
  • * Publications; Chicago, IL; Howard MacNutt; New York, USA; Promulgation of Universal Peace (book); United States (USA)
    1928 3 Dec
    192-
    The pronouncement of the verdit of the court in the case of the official inquiry into the activities of the Bahá'í Faith.

    As the result of being mistaken for a secret political society, the members of the Spiritual Assemblies of Constantinople and Smyrna were seized and imprisoned at the police station overnight. After cross–examination for eight consecutive hours by high state officials, they were acquitted and released the following day. The result was that all newspapers carried the story with front page headlines, and the population was made thoroughly aware of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW3 p121; Bahá'í Administration> p151-152; Bahá'í Administration p167-169]

    Istanbul, Turkey; Persecution, Turkey; Smyrna, Turkey; Turkey; Turkey
    1923 20 Dec
    192-
    The Peace Court ruled in favour of giving the Bahá'ís possession of House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád, however, the Council of Ministers, with the approval of King Feisal, ordered that the property not be returned until ownership could be established. [SETPE1p26]
  • The Guardian sent 19 cables to various individuals and national bodies with instructions that the Bahá'ís should send cables to the British High Commissioner in Iráq, Sir Henry Dobbs, as well as to the British authorities in Iráq and in London as well as to King Feisal to protest the action of the Council of Ministers. In communities where the numbers are stronger, Persia and America, he instructed that every local assembly protest directly. The Guardian himself sent over 600 pieces of correspondence during the following six months concerning this issue. [PP94-6, GBF33-34 BA94-95]
  • The Iráqí government refused to bow to the pressure put upon them. [PP96]
  • Baghdad, Iraq; Firsts, other; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq; Peace Court First time public opinion was rallied to support a miscarriage of justice against the Bahá'is
    1926 25 Jan
    192-
    The passing of Professor Edward Granville Browne, (b. on the family estate in Gloucestershire, 7 February, 1862. d. near Cambridge). He is buried at Elswick Cemetery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Find a grave.

    Browne was a British orientalist who published numerous articles and books of academic value in the areas of Persian history and literature. He had a number of private interviews with Bahá'u'lláh at Bahjí in 1890. He was the only Westerner to have met Bahá'u'lláh and to have left a description of the experience (see Scholar Meets Prophet: Edward Granville Browne and Bahá'u'lláh).
    In 1912-13, while `Abdu'l-Bahá was in Europe, Browne visited him in London and Paris. These visits were supplemented by some correspondence between the two. Other Bahá'ís, including Montford Mills, also visited and corresponded with Browne from time to time. When `Abdu'l-Bahá passed away in 1921, Browne penned a sympathetic obituary. He also wrote a pen-portrait of Àbdu'l-Bahá. [Bahá'í Tributes]

  • Charles Melville, Professor of Persian History at Pembroke College in Cambridge headed the Browne Archive Project to digitize Browne's diaries and notes.
  • See Encounter with Bahá'u'lláh, a short video about Browne's life and his famous interview.
  • See MCS529-545 for a discussion of Browne's lack of objectivity and his partisanship as a researcher that lead to his committing some serious errors in his work on the Bábí-Bahá'í Faith.
  • He himself a professor of Arabic, found the Báb's style of writing very difficult and said of his works: "...some are so confused, so full of repetitions, extraordinary works and fantastic derivatives of Arabic roots, that they defy the most industrious and indefatigable reader." [SBBH5p227]

    Browne's Publications

    • Religious Systems of the World: A Contribution to the Study of Comparative Religion (1889)
    • A Traveller's Narrative Written to Illustrate the Episode of the Báb (1891) A history by`Abdu'l-Bahá which Browne translated and extensively annotated.
    • Tarikh-i-Jadid or New History of Mirza`Ali Muhammad the Báb (1893) by Mirza Husayn Hamadani translated by E.G.Browne.
      • Hájjí Mírzá Jani Kashani wrote a substantial history of the Bábi Faith sometime between 1850-1852. (He was martyred in 1852.) These memoirs as they were copied and re-copied and spawned a great many versions which differed particularly in their portrayal of Subh-i-Azál and Bahá'u'lláh, depending on the editor's loyalty.
      • In about 1880 Mírzá Husayn Hamadani with the support of Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl took some version of Mírzá Jani's 1851 account and worked it up into a new history, The Tárikh-i-Jadíd. He did this at the request of a Zoroastrian, Manakji, who then added a preface, an epilogue, and an unknown number of amendments to the text and then published it under his own name.
      • Nabil-i-Akbar, in response to a commission by Bahá'u'lláh, made a revision of this work somewhere between 1880-1883 which is known as The Táríkh-i Badí'-i Bayání.
      • Browne used two these two manuscripts, The Tárikh-i-Jadíd and The Táríkh-i Badí'-i Bayání to write the single volume The New History (tarikh-i-jadid) of Mírzá Ali-Muhammed, the Báb. In referring to Mírzá Jani's history throughout the footnotes, he was not aware of the problems of discerning what represents the original memoirs and what others have added.
    • A Year Among the Persians (1893) Vividly describes his adventures, including his encounters with the Bahá'ís and Azalís during his time in Persian from October 1887 to September 1888. The memoir of his sojourn did much to familiarize English readers with the Báb, His gentleness and patience, the cruel fate which had overtaken him, and the unflinching courage wherewith he and his followers, from the greatest to the least, had endured the merciless torments inflicted upon them by their enemies. [Tales of Magnificent Heroism by Robert Weinburg.
    • A chapter from the history of Cannabis Indica (1897)
    • A Literary History of Persia From Firdawsí to Sa'dí (in four volumes) (1902-24)
    • The Persian Revolution of 1905–1909 (1910) About the Persian Constitutional Revolution, of which Browne was an ardent supporter.
    • He published, in Persian, the text of The Kitab-i-Nuqtatu'l-Kaf, being the earliest History of the Bábís compiled by Hájji Mírzá Jání of Kásgán between the years 1850 and 1852, edited from the unique Ms. Suppl. Persan 1071. (1910) This was a work that he had done at an earlier date. It was published at the instigation of Mirza Muhammad Qazvini, a well-known Iranian literary critic and Azalí sympathizer, who wrote the Persian Introduction to this volume. After the publication of this work, `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote to a number of Iranian Bahá'ís, urging them to compile material to refute its contents. One such work was Dashf al-Ghitá by Mírzá Abul-Fazl Gulpáyigání. [RR232] [See The History and Provenance of an Early Manuscript of the Nuqtat al-kaf dated 1268 (1851-52) by William F. McCants and Kavian Sadeghzade Milani and Nuqtat al-Káf by Kavian Sadeghzade Milani as well as Nuqtat al-Kaf and the Babi Chronicle Traditions by Juan Cole; The Bab's Stay in Kashan: A Historiographical Analysis of the Kitab-i-Nuqtatu'l-Kaf Based on the Kashan Pericope by Kavian Milani; MCS517; 541]
      • When E.G. Browne published the Nuqtatu'l-Kaf with its Persian and English introductions that contained much material hostile to the Bahá'í Faith, a number of Bahá'í scholars worked on refutations of this book. [Mirza Abu'l-Fadl] Gulpaygani also began to work on such a book, but when heard that work on a similar book in Iran under the guidance of the Hands of the Cause had reached an advanced stage, he suspended work on his book awaiting a manuscript from Iran. Unfortunately he never got back to this book and at his death the manuscript was incomplete. When Mirza Abu'l-Fadl's papers were sent to his cousin Sayyid Mahdi Gulpaygani in Ashkhabad, the latter undertook to complete the work. The final work was published in Ashkhabad. Of the 438 pages of the book some 132 are attributed to Mirza Abu'l-Fadl. The final work, however, has a tone and vehemence completely uncharacteristic of Mirza Abu'l-Fadl and `Abdu'l-Baha instructed that it should not be distributed. [from a post by Adib Masumian to the [bahai-library.com/tarikh] list 25 April 2021]
      .
    • It is reported that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was "deeply annoyed" with Browne over the publication and dissemination of the Kitáb-i Nuqtatu'l-Káf as reported by Áqáy-i-Taqízádih in ´Ábdu'l-Baha's Meetings with Two Prominent Iranians introduced and translated by Ahang Rabbani. [World Order Vol 30 No 1 Fall 1998 p46]
    • It would appear that Browne loved the Bábi movement however as the religion changed into the Bahá'í Faith, he insisted on calling it the Bábi religion. Browne did not understand the the claims of Baha'u'lláh and the transitional and the historical factors at work. He saw the early Bábi movement as the beginning of the Faith and thought that the Bahá'í Faith was a sect of Bábism. This was largely due to the influence of Bahá'u'lláh's half-brother, Azal. Browne was disappointed that the Bahá'ís did not take up the cause of constitutional reform but he was well aware that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had forbidden participation in political struggles, and that had they supported the Constitutionalists, it would the brought that wrath of the persecution of the Bahá'ís down upon them.
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said, "They tampered with the contents of the history of Hájí Mírzá Jání by removing some of its passages and inserting others. They sent it to the libraries of London and Paris and through such falsehood induced him [Browne] to translate and publish the document. In order to achieve his own selfish desires, he had it printed." [MD24]
    • Also from 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "I wrote to him, saying, `You are the first European teacher and author to have attained His Blessed Presence. Do not lose this distinction.' He did not understand me and his loss will be known when the lights of guidance shine in England with supreme brilliancy." [MD278]
    • From GPB81, Browne's testimony, "One of those strange outbursts,"..."of enthusiasm, faith, fervent devotion and indomitable heroism … the birth of a Faith which may not impossibly win a place amidst the great religions of the world." And again: "The spirit which pervades the Bábís is such that it can hardly fail to affect most powerfully all subjected to its influence.… Let those who have not seen disbelieve me if they will, but, should that spirit once reveal itself to them, they will experience an emotion which they are not likely to forget."
    • The Persian Constitutional Movement (1918) [MCS544]
    • Materials for the Study of the Babi Religion (1918) The book represented no great amount of original work on Browne's part since it was mainly documents that he had collected.
    • Arabian Medicine (1921) [Browne, Edward Granville by Moojan Momen] iiiii
    • For scholarly works on the life of Browne see Selections From The Writings of E.G. Browne - On The Babi And Baha'i Religions by Moojan Momen and Edward Granville Browne and the Baha'i Faith by Hasan Balyuzi. Both have been published by George Ronald.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Cambridge, England; E. G. Browne; Hajji Mírzá Jani Kashani; Manikchi Limji Hataria; Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl Gulpáygání; Mírzá Husayn Hamadani; Mírzá Yaḥyá (Subh-i-Azal); Mountfort Mills; Nabil-i-Akbar (Áqá Muḥammad-i-Qá’iní); Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    The passing of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání (b. c1875).
  • He was 'Abdu'l-Bahá's secretary on his western trip and is the author of Mahmúd's Diary. In his youth he travelled and taught around Iran and from 1903 he began travelling to and in India, learning Urdu. He also made a pilgrimage to Haifa where he transcribed Tablets and from there accompanied 'Abdu'l-Bahá on His journey to Europe and to America. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary Edinburgh p.5]
  • He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Mahmuds Diary; Mírzá Mahmud-i-Zarqani
    1921 19 Nov
    192-
    The passing of Mírzá Abu'l-Ḥasan Afnán, a Persian nobleman and descendant of the family of the Báb. He had lived a long time in the Holy Land, and was very close and attached to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He realized the impending passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he threw himself into the sea. [The Utterance Project; SoW Vol 12 No 18] - Biography; Mírzá Abu'l-Hasan Afnan; Suicide
    1920 27 Jan
    192-
    The passing of Joseph H. Hannen, (b. January 27, 1920, Allegheny, Pennsylvania) Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahá a week after he was knocked down by a truck in Washington, DC. [Washington Evening Star 29 Jan 1920]

    It was Joseph Hannen who served as a note-taker for many of the talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His tour in the United States. A number of the entries in Promulgation of Universal Peace have been accredited to him. [The Washington Times 28 January, 1928]

    'Abdu'l-Bahá sent the first Tablet of the Divine Plan to the southern states in care of Joseph. He and his wife Pauline taught the Faith to African Americans; among those they taught were Louis Gregory and Mrs. Pocahontas Pope. [Bahá'í Chronicles, Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy pp 38-39 by Christopher Buck, Kalimat Press]

    He was buried with his wife, Pauline Amalie Knobloch Hannen (b. 29 August, 1874 d. 4 October, 1939) in Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Washington, DC. iiiii

    - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; Allegheny, PA; Cemeteries and graves; Joseph Hannen; Pauline Hannen; Pocahontas Pope; Promulgation of Universal Peace (book); Tablets of the Divine Plan; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1928 (In the year)
    192-
    The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad, known as Ibn-i-Asdaq. He was born in Mashhad in 1850/1851. [Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project]
  • His father was Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas-i-Khurásání (also known as Ismu'lláhu'l-Asdaq of Khurásán), referred to as a Hand of the Cause of God by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. While still a child he suffered imprisonment with his father in Tehran. [EM19]
  • In 1880 he begged Bahá'u'lláh permission to be a martyr. Bahá'u'lláh said that if one lived right he might attain martyrdom. In 1882 Bahá'u'lláh conferred the station of martyr on him calling him "Shahid Ibn-i-Shahid" ("Martyr, son of the Martyr")."
      Today, the greatest of all deeds is service to the Cause. Souls that are well-assured should with utmost discretion teach the Faith,lll this martyrdom is no confined to the destruction of life and the shedding of blood. A person enjoying the bounty of life may yet be recorded as a martyr in the Book of the Sovereign Lord. [OLOMP46N12]
    • He was the first of the Hands of the Cause of God named by Bahá'u'lláh.
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave him a special mission to teach members of the "ruling class" the Faith.
    • He was deeply involved in the planning and construction of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in 'Ishqábád.
    • Ibn-i-Asdaq, Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad, Hand of the Cause of God, Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh, passed away in Tihrán. He was one of the few Apostles to live into the time of Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian. [BBD115, EM176, LoF9-12, RoB4p286]
    • For details of his life see RoB1P92-93; RoB2p 293; RoB3p62-63, 253-260, 265-268; EB2-23; MF5-8; DB100-101, 145-148, 185-187; EB171–6; BW6p103; Bahaipedia; LoF9-12.
    • His daughter, Ruha Asdaq wrote a book about her pilgrimage experiences with her father titled One Life One Memory: Memories of Pilgrimage in 1914. The book was translated to English and published by George Ronald in 1999. For a book review by Paul Mantle.
    • For more details of his life see EB171-176; RoB4p 301-304, Tablets to him RoB4 254, 275, 277, 2966,315-328, Photos RoB4 277-278, 281-286, 292.
    • See also Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Hands appointed by Bahá'u'lláh; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Ibn-i-Aṣdaq (Mírzá `Alí-Muḥammad); Iran; Ismu’lláhu’l-Aṣdaq (Mullá Sádiq Khurásání); Mashhad, Iran; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Ishqabad; Names and titles; Tehran, Iran
    1920 Dec
    192-
    The passing of Hájí Mírzá Haydar-Alí Isfaháni known as 'the Angel of Mount Carmel' in Haifa. He was buried in the Bahá'í Cemetery on Mount Carmel. [BBD98; EB250]
  • Acting on the request of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he wrote Bahá'í Martyrdoms in Persia in the Year 1903 AD. It covered the events from March to September and was published in English as a 28-page book in 1904 and 1917.
  • For the story of his life see RB2:438–50.
  • For his biography see EB237-50.
  • His autobiography was published as Stories from the Delight of Hearts - The Memoirs of Hají Mírzá Haydar-Alí, was translated by A Q Faizi and published by Kalimat in 1980.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Cemeteries and graves; Haifa, Israel; Hájí Mírzá Haydar-`Alí (Angel of Carmel)
    1929 (In the year)
    192-
    The passing of Gulsurkh Bagum, given name Fátímíh-Sultán Bagum (b. 1855 Isfahan) [ARG171-186] - Biography; Gulsurkh Bagum (Fatimih-Sultan Bagum); Iran; Tehran, Iran
    1925 20- 22 Mar
    192-
    The Palace Hotel, the city's first premier luxury hotel, was the site for the first World Unity Conference in San Francisco. The three day event was organized by Leroy Ioas, Ella Goodall Cooper and Kathryn Frankland in cooperation with Rabbi Rudolph Coffee. Dr. David Starr Jordan, founding president of Stanford University, served as the honorary chairman of the conference. Those who addressed the conference were Rabbi Coffee and Dr. Jordan but also the senior priest of the Catholic Cathedral, a professor of religion, a Protestant minister of a large African-American congregation, distinguished academics, and a foreign diplomat. The last one to address the conference was the Persian Bahá'í scholar, Mírzá Asadu'llah Fádil Mázandarání, the only Bahá'í on the program.
  • LefoynIoas provided the National Spiritual Assembly with a report, and he suggested that similar World Unity Conferences be held in other communities. The National Assembly enthusiastically agreed and established a three-person committee, including two of its officers, to assist other localities in their efforts to hold conferences. The committee members were Horace Holley, Florence Reed Morton, and Mary Rumsey Movius. World Unity Conferences were organized for Green Acre-August, Philadelphia-September, Cleveland-October and Chicago in November. [LIHC45-51]

    During 1926 and into 1927, eighteen communities held World Unity Conferences using the San Francisco model. These included Worcester, Massachusetts; New York, New York Oct 10-12; Montreal, Canada; Cleveland, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; New Haven, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Buffalo, New York. [BN No 12 Jun-Jul 1926 p6-7; The Cause of Universal Peace: 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson; LI45-49; BN No 20 Nov 1927 p5]

  • See BA117 for Shoghi Effendi's comments and recommendations.
  • California, USA; Conferences, Race Amity; Conferences, World unity; Ella Goodall Cooper; Kathryn Frankland; Leroy Ioas; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA)
    1926 1 Oct
    192-
    The office of the National Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada was moved from Green Acre to 48 West 10th Street in New York, in the house that was so richly blessed by the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bahá many times during His visit. [BN No 12 June - July 1926 p1] Green Acre Bahá’í School; National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada; New York City, NY
    1929 Apr
    192-
    The New History Society was founded in New York by 'Abdu'l-Bahá's former secretary and interpreter Ahmad Sohrab along with Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler and his wife Julie as an indirect way of spreading the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. The New History Society gave rise in 1930 to the Caravan of East and West and the Chanler's New York house was henceforth called "Caravan House". This foundation was designed to prepare children and youth to join the New History Society. This group had a quarterly magazine called The Caravan. [BRRSM124, LDG2p134] iiiii Caravan House, New York; Caravan of East and West; Covenant-breaking; Julie Chanler; Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler; Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; New History Society; New York, USA; The Caravan; United States (USA)
    1929 27 Feb
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada forwarded a pamphlet published by Ruth White to Shoghi Effendi. His advice was to abstain from any provocation and to avoid hurting her feelings. [SETPET1p157, Bahá'í News p230, 298]
  • In 1929 she published The Bahai Religion and its Enemy, the Bahai Organization and in 1930, an appendix entitled Abdul Baha's Alleged Will is Fraudulent. An appendix to The Bahai Religion and its enemy the Bahai Organization.
  • Covenant-breaking; Ruth White
    1927 8 Jan
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada appointed seven people to a National Race Unity Committee. [SBR94; TMW166]
  • For the functions and challenges faced by the committee see TMW165–72.
  • Canada; National Spiritual Assemblies; Race; Race amity; Race unity; United States (USA)
    1926 12 Jul (Or 16 Jul)
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada made representations to the Iranian government concerning the martyrdoms in Jahrum and asking the Sháh to intervene on behalf of the oppressed Bahá'ís. They included in their submission a list of all the places in North America were Bahá'ís resided. [BBR469; BW2:287]
  • For text of the petition see BW2:287–300.
  • On the 31st of July the submission that had been reprinted in booklet form was sent to some 300 newspapers. Copies were also sent to the local spiritual assemblies with instructions to deliver them to all Bahá'ís and friends of the Faith. [BN No 12 June - July 1926 p1]
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; Human rights; Iran; Jahrum, Iran; National Spiritual Assemblies; Petitions; United States (USA)
    1927 May
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada drew up and published a 'Declaration of Trust' and 'By-laws of the National Spiritual Assembly'. [BW2:89, BW10:180]
  • For text see BW2:90–8.
  • The Guardian described it as the Bahá'í 'national constitution' heralding 'the formation of the constitution of the future Bahá'í World Community'. [GPB335; PP302–3]
  • The drafting was largely the work of Horace Holley with assistance from the lawyer Mountfort Mills. [SBR234]
  • In subsequent years the National Assemblies of India and Burma, of Egypt, Iraq, Persian and the British Isles all adopted this example almost verbatim. [UD101, BA134-5, SETPE1p145-6]
  • By-laws; Canada; Constitutions (Bahá'í); Firsts, other; Horace Holley; Mountfort Mills; National Spiritual Assemblies; Recognition (legal); United States (USA) The first document of this sort to establish a clear legal basis for the National Spiritual Assembly
    1928 11 Sep
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iraq submitted a petition to the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations for the return of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád. [BW3:198–206]
  • See BA164-165 for letter from Shoghi Effendi.
  • Text of the Petition
  • See Minutes of the Fourteenth Session, 1928, by Permanent Mandates Commission.
  • Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq; League of Nations; Petitions
    1923 13 Oct
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Britain met for the first time, at the home of Ethel Rosenberg. [EJR228; UD13, 163]
  • It became the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles in 1930 and the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom in 1972.
  • Ethel Rosenberg; United Kingdom
    1926 Ridván
    192-
    The National Convention was held at the Hotel Whitcomb on Market Street in San Francisco. Because of the difficulty and expense of travel, only 32 of the 93 delegates attended in person. Those elected to the National Assembly were: Horace Holley, Montfort Mills, Florence Morton, Siegried Schopflocher, Roy Wilhelm, Amelia Collins, Allen McDaniels, Carl Scheffler, and Ali Kuli Khan. [BN No 12 June-July 1926 p3] `Alí Kulí Khán; Allen B. McDaniel; Amelia Collins; Carl Scheffler; Conventions, National; Florence Morton; Horace Holley; Mountfort Mills; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Roy C. Wilhelm; San Francisco, CA; Siegfried Schopflocher; United States (USA)
    1928 26–30 Apr
    192-
    The National Convention of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada was held in the Foundation Hall of the House of Worship for the first time. [BW2:180; CT167; BN No 24 June 1928]
  • Elected were Allen Mc Daniel (chair), Alfred Lunt (vice-chair), Horace Holley (secretary), Carl Scheffler (treasurer), Roy Wilhelm, May Maxwell, Louis Gregory, Amelia Collins, and Nellie French. [USBN No 26 September, 1928]
  • See BW2:180 for a picture.
  • See FMH53-54]
  • Alfred Lunt; Allen B. McDaniel; Amelia Collins; Carl Scheffler; Chicago, IL; Conventions, National; Firsts, other; Horace Holley; Louis G. Gregory; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; May Maxwell; Nellie French; Roy C. Wilhelm; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL first time National Convention held in the Foundation Hall of the House of Worship, Wilmette
    1923 18 Oc
    192-
    The Nairn Transport Company was a pioneering motor transport company that operated a trans-desert route from Beirut, Haifa and Damascus to Baghdad, and back again, from 1923. Their route became known as "The Nairn Way". The firm continued, in various guises, until 1959. [Wikipedia]
  • Lorol Schopflocher used this service for her trip from Baghdad to Beirut after one of her visits to King Faisal in Baghdad.
  • Baghdad, Iraq; Beirut, Lebanon; Damascus, Syria; Haifa, Israel
    1921 Apr
    192-
    The Minister of Justice overturned an earlier ruling and possession of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was returned to the Bahá'ís. [SETPE1p25] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1929 27 Nov
    192-
    The Mansion at Bahjí was evacuated by the Covenant-breakers after the occupation by Muhammad-Alí and his relatives for about 40 years. [DH116; GPB355–6; PP231-232, SETPE1p174]
  • During this time they showed no respect for the Holy Site; a blacksmith shop was set up near the entrance to the Shrine. [SE125]
  • For details of how the building was left see GBP356.
  • For pictures of its neglected state see DH116.
  • Covenant-breakers continued to occupy the adjacent house until June 1957. [PP233]
  • See SE126 for Shoghi Effendi's plan for a Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • See SoW Vol 20 no 4 July 1929 p122 for an account of the observations of Miss Isabel Rives who visited the area at this time.
  • Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahji, Israel; Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breaking; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Bahji)
    1921 (In the year)
    192-
    The Kingdom of Iraq under British Administration or Mandatory Iraq began. It would last until 1932. [Mandatory Iraq] House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1923 8 Feb
    192-
    The keys to the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh were returned to Shoghi Effendi. [GBF23; PP71] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahji, Israel
    1925 13 Dec
    192-
    The keys to Bahá'u'lláh's house in Baghdád were given to the Shí'ís. [UD45] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1923 (In the year)
    192-
    The keys for the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád were delivered to the Shi'as by the government. [PP94-5, GBF33] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1929 18 Mar
    192-
    The International Bahá'í Bureau was recognized by the League of Nations. [BIC History Timeline] Bahá'í International Community; International Bahá'í Bureau; League of Nations; New York City, NY
    1925 (Spring)
    192-
    The International Bahá'í Bureau was created by the English Bahá'í Jean Stannard (1865–1944) at the encouragement of Shoghi Effendi who wanted the center to serve as an intermediary between the Bahá'í centre of Haifa and the various Bahá'í centres, but without having any international authority in the movement. [BW4:257, 261; BBD118]
  • Mrs. Stannard started a publication she called Messager Bahá'í that was printed in three languages (English, French and German). The first issue appeared in July of 1926. Four issues were brought out between July of that year and September 1927.
  • Miss Julia Culver joined Mrs Stannard in the Spring of 1927 and Mrs Emogene Hoagg arrived in June of 1928.
  • In 1930 the Bureau was legally registered as an International working unit, governed by a local committee which is under the direct supervision of Shoghi Effendi. [BW4p257]
  • The International Bahá'í Bureau functioned until 1957. For the history and work of the Bureau see BW4:257–61, BW6:130–5, BW7:108–13, BW11:507–8.
  • - Europe; Bahá'í Information Bureau; Emogene Hoagg; Firsts, other; Geneva, Switzerland; International Bahá'í Bureau; Jean Stannard; Julia Culver; Switzerland first establishment International Bahá’í Bureau
    1920 (in the year)
    192-
    The House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was seized by Shí'ís. [BBD109; GBF33; GPB356-7] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1923 Jan
    192-
    The Guardian sent `Abdu'l-Husayn, Ávárih, to Europe to deepen the believers. [CB335; SBR68; EJR223]
  • For his life and eventual Covenant-breaking see CB334-42 and PP120.
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Europe; `Abdu'l-Husayn Ávárih; Covenant-breaking
    1925 Dec
    192-
    The Guardian expressed his "heartfelt and abiding gratitude" to Milly Collins and seven others who had donated the necessary funds to complete the Western Pilgrim House construction project. It had been started in 1919 with a donation from Ruth and Harry Randal but had come to a halt when the funds ran out. [Millyp7; DH180; PSBW76] - Bahá'í World Centre; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Amelia Collins; Donations; Haifa, Israel; Pilgrim House, Western (Haifa); Pilgrim Houses
    1929 14 Sep
    192-
    The Green Acre Trustees were appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada. [GAP118] Eliot, ME; Green Acre Bahá’í School; Maine, USA; Trustees; United States (USA)
    1922 (Autumn)
    192-
    The Greatest Holy Leaf sent Shoghi Effendi's mother and other family members to Switzerland to ask him to return to the Holy Land. [PP63] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1922 16 Jan
    192-
    The Greatest Holy Leaf cabled the United States with the news that Shoghi Effendi had been appointed Guardian. [PP48] * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Guardianship; United States (USA)
    1921 29 Nov
    192-
    The funeral of `Abdu'l-Bahá. [BW15:115]
  • For details of the funeral see AB464-74; BW1:23-6; BW15:115-19; GPB312-14; and SW12, 17:259-67.
  • For Western and newspaper accounts see AB474-80; BBR347-9; BW1:26-8; and BW15:119-20.
  • For eulogies to `Abdu'l-Bahá see AB481-2, BW1:28-9 and BW15 120-1.
  • Ten thousand people attend `Abdu'l-Bahá's funeral. [v7]
  • For a number of pictures of the funeral procession see SW12, 91:290, 292-8.
  • Bahíyyih Khánum looked for instructions on where to bury `Abdu'l-Bahá and, finding none, entombed Him in a vault next to the one where the remains of the Báb lay. [AB464; GBF14]
  • Also see Balyuzi, `Abdu'l-Bahá; Blomfield, The Chosen Highway; Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of `Abdu'l-Bahá; SW12, 15:245 and several following issues.
  • Photo.
  • The Greatest Holy Leaf engaged a locksmith to change all the locks in the Master's house. During the funeral procession she remained there and asked that a policeman be assigned to stand outside the door. During the procession Mirza Muhammad-Ali and his brother, feigning sadness, asked the policeman if they could enter the Master's house to express their condolences to the Greatest Holy Leaf. She turned them away at the door saying that this was not the time. He had attempted a kind of a palace coup. The Greatest Holy Leaf had foreseen that he would attempt just that. The House of the Master was more than a residence; it was the visible administrative centre of the Cause. Other than the Shrine of the Báb, it was the only Bahá'í edifice in the Holy Land at that time. [An account of the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p42]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Shrine of; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breaking; Haifa, Israel; Mírzá Muḥammad ‘Alí; Mount Carmel
    1927 May
    192-
    The funeral of a believer resident in the Holy Land, Mírá Moshen Afnán, was the first entirely Bahá'í funeral to take place in Palestine showing the strong independence of the Faith. [SETPE1p147] Firsts, other; Funeral; Haifa, Israel; Mira Moshen Afnan; Palestine first entirely Bahá'í funeral to take place in Palestine
    1924 22 - 23 Oct
    192-
    The fourth Race Amity Convention was held in Philadelphia. Because there were few Bahá'ís in the city at that time it required assistance from other communities. Roy Williams played a key role as he had in Springfield. Louis Gregory spent one month writing articles for the newspapers, speaking and serving in other ways.

    The first session was attended by some 600 people, and, thanks to the excellent press coverage, 900 were present the second day.

    The following day, on the 24th of October, the Bahá'í supported a Conference on Inter-racial Justice organized by the Quakers. Followup meetings were held on the 25th and the 26th of October. [SYD147-149]

    Louis G. Gregory; Philadelphia, PA; Race amity; Roy Williams; United States (USA)
    1920 3 Apr
    192-
    The founders of Teheran branch of Societé Nonahalan 'Children's Savings Fund' were Mirza Mohammed Tabib, Miss Lillian Kappes, Mirza Nuredin, Doctor Susan Moody, and Goodsea Ashraf Khanom. [Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran]

    The Bahá'í Children's Savings Company, known in Iran as Shirkat-i Nawnahalan, began as a savings bank for Bahá'í children in 1917 and was founded through 'Abdu'l-Bahá's encouragement. [Bahá'í Teachings 4 Oct 2012]

    Children's Savings Fund (Iran); Goodsea Ashraf Khanom; Iran; Lillian Kappes; Mírzá Mohammed Tabib; Mírzá Nuredin; Nawnahalan; Nonahalan Society; Susan Moody; Tehran, Iran
    1924 Ridván
    192-
    The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Egypt. It was the first national body in Africa. [BBRSM121; GPB333]
  • It was actually formed in December of 1924 but is listed under this date for uniformity.
  • "The Central Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís in the Egyptian State was registered on December 26, 1924 by the Cairo Mixed Court." [Prohibited Identities p31 footnote 53]
  • It was incorporated in 1934, but only as the National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt, and the incorporation document was not amended to include Sudan until 1949. [Baha'i News No 321 November 1957 p4]
  • This community became part of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North East Africa in 1956.
  • Egypt; National Spiritual Assembly, formation The National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt was formed, the first national body in Africa.
    1923 Ridván
    192-
    The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of England. [GPB333]
  • The election was by postal ballot. [EJR228]
  • For the membership of the first Assembly see EJR228 and SBR71.
  • See also EJR223-31 for the election and functioning of the Assembly.
  • Prior to becoming the National Spiritual Assembly, the "All-England Bahá'í Council" was formed on the 6th of June, 1922. [Achievements and Victories of the Guardianship:Statistics, chronology, and bibliography compiled by Owen Battrick]
  • In 1930 the name was changed tothe National Spiritual assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles. [BCBI423]
  • In 1972 when the National Spiritual Assembly of Ireland was formed, the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles was renamed the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom. [BW15:290]
  • London, England; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; United Kingdom
    1923 Ridván
    192-
    The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma.. It was incorporated in 1932. [GPB333; BW6p303] India; Myanmar; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; New Delhi, India
    1923 Ridván
    192-
    The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria. [GPB333] Germany; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Stuttgart, Germany
    1923 Ridván
    192-
    The formation of the first spiritual assembly of Tunis. It remained active until 1946 but was re-formed in 1948. [Bahaipedia; SoW Vol 14 No 3 p313] Local Spiritual Assembly, dissolved; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Local Spiritual Assembly, re-formed; Tunis, Tunisia first spiritual assembly of Tunis
    1923 4 Nov
    192-
    The first recorded Bahá'í Feast in China was held in Beijing. [PH33]
  • Martha Root and Agnes Alexander were present. [PH33]
  • Agnes Alexander; Beijing, China; China; Martha Root; Nineteen Day Feast
    1921 19-21 May
    192-
    The first Race Amity Conference was held in Washington DC at the old First Congregational Church, 10th & G Streets NW. This church had a reputation for opposition to racial prejudice and had close ties with Howard University. It had a capacity of 2,000. [BW2:281; CoO197; SYH126]

    Referring back to this historic event, Abdu'l-Baha, in a Tablet to Roy Williams (an African-American Baha'i from New York City), wrote:

      I hope that the Congress of the White and the Colored that was instituted will have great influence in the inhabitants of America, so that everyone may confess and bring witness that the teachings of His Holiness, Baha'u'llah, assembles the White, the Black, the Yellow, the Red and the Brown under the shade of the pavilion of the Oneness of the World of Humanity; and that if the teachings of His Holiness, Baha'u'llah, be not enforced, the antagonism between the Colored and the White, in America, will give rise to great calamities. The ointment for this wound and the remedy for this disease is only the Holy Breaths [Holy Spirit]. If the hearts be attracted to the Heavenly Bounties, surely will the White and the Colored, in a short time, according to the teachings of Baha'u'llah, put away hatred and animosity and [abide in] perfect love and fellowship. (Haifa, August 2, 1921, translated by Touhi [Ruhi] M. Afnan.) [The Bahá'í "Pupil of the Eye" Metaphor—What Does it Mean? by Christopher Buck]
  • Martha Root handled the newspaper publicity for the conference and 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent a message to it via Mountfort Mills. [SYH126]
  • Mabry and Sadie Oglesby and their daughter Bertha from Boston as well as Agnes Parsons and Louis Gregory were involved. Agnes Parsons, during her pilgrimage in 1920, was instructed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "I want you to arrange in Washington a convention for unity between the white and colored people."[SETPE1p141-145, BW2p281]
  • See Report of an Address given at the First Convention for Amity between the white and colored races, held at Washington, D. C. by Louis Gregory. [BW1p165-169]
  • For an article by Louis Gregory titled Inter-Racial Amity. [BW2:281-2]
  • See article The Bahá'í 'Race Amity' Movement and the Black Intelligentsia in Jim Crow America:Alain Locke and Robert Abbot by Christopher Buck [Bahá'í Studies Review, 17, pages 3-46, 2011] (includes a chronology of 29 Race Amity conferences organized in the United States between 1921 and 1935).
  • The Washington Bee (which, as part of its masthead, billed itself "Washington's Best and Leading Negro Newspaper") published the text of the entire speech on May 25, 1912, in an article headlined, "Abdue [ sic] Baha: Revolution in Religious Worship."
  • Documentary: 'Abdu'l-Baha's Initiative on Race from 1921: Race Amity Conferences.
  • See the film Root of the Race Amiy Movement.
  • See the trailer for the film An American Story: Race Amity and the Other Tradition.
  • See the website for the National Centre for Race Amity.
  • - First conferences; Agnes Parsons; Conferences, Race Amity; Louis G. Gregory; Mabry Oglesby; Martha Root; Mountfort Mills; Race; Race amity; Race unity; Sadie Oglesby; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA First Race Amity Conference
    1927 (Summer)
    192-
    The first Race Amity Conference was held in Green Acre. It was organized by Louis Gregory, Agnes Parsons, Dr Zia Bagdadi, Alain Locke, and Pauline Hannen. [GAP118, SYH146] Agnes Parsons; Alain Locke; Green Acre Bahá’í School; Louis G. Gregory; Pauline Hannen; Race amity; Zia Bagdadi
    1928 (In the year)
    192-
    The first publication of Kalil Gibran's book, Jesus (The Son Of Man: His Words And His Deeds As Told And Recorded By Those Who Knew Him) in New York by A.A. Knopf. It was re-published in 1946 and 1995 again by Knopf Doubleday, by Oneworld in 1993 2008 and 2012 and by Green Light Ebooks in Los Angeles in 2011.

    Around 1911–1912, Gibran met with ʻAbdu'l-Bahá to draw His portrait when He visited the United States The meeting made a strong impression on Gibran. One of Gibran's acquaintances later in life, Juliet Thompson reported that Gibran was unable to sleep the night before meeting him. This encounter with ʻAbdu'l-Bahá later inspired Gibran to write Jesus the Son of Man that portrayed Jesus through the "words of seventy-seven contemporaries who knew him – enemies and friends: Syrians, Romans, Jews, priests, and poets." After the passing of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Gibran gave a talk on religion with Baháʼís and at another event with a viewing of a movie of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Gibran would rise to talk and proclaim in tears an exalted station of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and leave the event weeping. [Wikipedia]

  • See YouTube Video for more on his painting career and his association with Alexander and Marjorie Morten, Bahá'ís of New York City and gallery owners.
  • See World Order Series 2 Vol 7 Issue 4 p45 for the story of his "declaration" of faith.
  • See On Kahlil Gibran and the Bahá'í Faith by Steven Kolins.
  • Jesus the Son of Man (book); Kahlil Gibran
    1921 (In the year)
    192-
    The first publication in Chinese was published by the Bahá'ís in Shanghai. [Video Early history of the Bahá'í Faith in China 7min40sec] Shanghai, China the first publication in Chinese was published by the Bahá'ís in Shanghai.
    1925 Ridván
    192-
    The first Local Spiritual Assembly in South Africa was formed in the Carey home in Arcadia, Pretoria. Agnes Carey was the first person from Pretoria to become a Bahá'í and served as a member of the Local assembly from 1925 to 1929. The Assembly was dissolved in 1931 due to the movement of the Bahá'ís. [PHBFp8; Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in South Africa since 1911]

    Agnes Carey passed away in 1958 and her live story can be found in BW13p943

    - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - In Memoriam; Agnes Carey; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Pretoria, South Africa The first Local Spiritual Assembly in South Africa was formed in Pretoria; Agnes Carey was the first person from Pretoria to become a Bahá'í.
    1923 Dec
    192-
    The first local spiritual assembly in Australia was formed in Melbourne. Australia; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Melbourne, Australia The first local spiritual assembly in Australia is formed in Melbourne.
    1928 (In the year)
    192-
    The first local assembly of Shanghai was formed. [PH28; Film Early History of the Baha'í Faith in China 17 min 34 sec ] Local Spiritual Assemblies; Shanghai, China first LSA Shanghai
    1922 10 Dec
    192-
    The first local assembly of Montreal was formed. [BW8:639, OBCC157, TG26] Canada; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Montreal, QC; Quebec, Canada first Local Spiritual Assembly in Canada, first spiritual assembly in Montreal
    1927 Oct
    192-
    The first issue of the monthy called World Unity Magazine. Its editors were John Herman Randall, John Herman Randall Jr. and Horace Holley. The concluding volume of the magazine stated its unique character proceeded from the outlook of its founders, who "realized the inter-dependence of religion, science and sociology in the movements simultaneously destroying the past and forming a new era in human history." During its last years of publication, it was openly a Bahá'í journal. [The Cause of Universal Peace]
  • All subsequent issues are available at Baha'i Works.
  • In 1935 it was decided to merge World Unity with another publication, Star of the West (renamed The Bahá'í Magazine in its later volumes) to become a new entity, World Order. This magazine was published from 1935 to 1949, revived in 1966, and ran until 2007. Like World Unity, its erudite articles covered a wide range of topics aimed at the educated public, but it was unmistakably a Bahá'í organ under the auspices of the US National Spiritual Assembly and never acquired as broad a readership as World Unity. [BN No 90 Mar 1935 p8]
  • Conferences, World unity; Horace Holley; John Herman Randall Jr; John Herman Randall Sr.; New York, USA; United States (USA); World Unity (magazine)
    1928 Jul
    192-
    The first International Religious Congress for World Peace was held at The Hague. It was attended by Martha Root. [BW3:45] - First conferences; - International peace conferences; Martha Root; Netherlands; The Hague, Netherlands first International Religious Congress for World Peace
    1925 (In the year)
    192-
    The first book translated into Portuguese by Leonora Armstrong was published, Paris Talks, in the original in English, or Lectures by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris as published today by Editora Bahá'í of Brazil. [Biographical Profile] * Translation; Belém, Brazil; Leonora Holsapple Armstrong; Paraguay; Paris Talks (book); Portuguese language
    1923 (In the year)
    192-
    The first Bahá'í Feast was held in New Zealand in the home of Margaret Stevenson. It was attended by Hyde Dunn from Australia. [SoW Vol 14 p25]
  • For photo see Bahá'í Historical Facts.
  • Feasts; John Henry Hyde Dunn; Margaret Stevenson; New Zealand first Bahá'í Feast held in New Zealand
    1920 After Jul
    192-
    The first Argentineans to become Bahá'ís, Hermann Grossmann and his sister Elsa Grossman, accepted the Faith in Leipzig in 1920.
  • They were born in Argentina and emigrated to Germany in 1909.
  • Dr Grossman heard of the Faith at a public meeting given by Harlan and Grace Ober at the Theosophical Society. [BW13:869]
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Elsa Grossmann; Germany; Grace Robarts Ober; Harlan Ober; Hermann Grossmann; Leipzig, Germany; Theosophical Society The first Argentineans to become Bahá'ís, Hermann Grossman and his sister Elsa Grossman,
    1920 27-29 Dec
    192-
    The first All-India Bahá'í Convention was held in Bombay with 175 in attendance. [AB446; BBRSM194; 115] - First conferences; Conferences, Bahá'í; India; Mumbai, India The first All-India Bahá'í Convention
    1924 24 Dec
    192-
    The first Bahá'í News Letter, forerunner of Bahá'í News, was published in New York by the National Assembly of the United States and Canada with Horace Holley as the editor. [BBRSM122; BW10:180; BW13:856; SBR232]
  • For links to the publications see entry at 1990-10-00.
  • * Publications; - First publications; - Newsletters; - Periodicals; Bahá'í News (US); Horace Holley; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1921 29 Nov
    192-
    The Faith had spread to 35 countries, an increase of 20 since the passing of Bahá'u'lláh. [Patheos website]
  • The additional countries were: Saudi Arabia, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Treat Britain, Hawaiian Islands, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordon, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United States.
  • Statistics
    1920 21 May
    192-
    The execution at Sultánábád of Hájí `Arab by hanging. [BBRXXX, 444-6; BW18:387] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Sultanabad, India
    1920 27 Apr
    192-
    The design for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar at Wilmette, Illinois, was finally chosen by the forty-nine delegates present at the Twelfth Annual Convention of Bahá'í Temple Unity, being held at the Hotel McAlpin, New York. Excavation at the site began on the 24th of September and construction commenced on the 20th of December. - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Design; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; New York, USA; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL
    1925 5 Apr
    192-
    The death of Mohammad-Ali Shah Qajar (b. 21 June 1872 in Tabriz, Azerbaijan, Persia) in exile in San Remo, Italy. He was buried at the Shrine of Imam Husain, Karbala, Iraq. His son and successor, Ahmad Shah Qajar was the last sovereign of the Qajar dynasty. [Wikipedia] Ahmad Shah Qajar; Italy; Mohammad-`Alí Sháh Qajár; San Remo, Italy
    1929 4 Mar
    192-
    The Council of the League of Nations adopted the conclusion reached by the Mandates Commissions upholding the claim of the Bahá'í community to the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád. They directed the Mandatory Power (Great Britain) to make representations to the government of Iraq with a view of the immediate redress of the injustice suffered by the petitioners (NSA of Iraq). Also, the International Baha'i Bureau was asked by the League's Publishing Bureau for a short historical account that appeared in that same year's publication. [BW3:50-55; BIC History page 18 Mar 1928]
  • For Shoghi Effendi's response to this see BW3:206–9 and BA175-180.
  • See Minutes of the Sixteenth Session, 1929, by Permanent Mandates Commission
  • Baghdad, Iraq; Geneva, Switzerland; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq; League of Nations
    1924 22 Sep - 3 Oct
    192-
    The conference `Some Living Religions within the British Empire' was held in London. [BW2:225; ER233; GPB342]
  • For details of the planning of the conference and its outcome see ER231-5.
  • For Shoghi Effendi's attitude to the conference see UD17, 19, 21-2, 245.
  • Two papers about the Bahá'í Faith were read at the conference, one by Horace Holley read by Mountfort Mills and the other by Rúhí Afnán. [BW2:225; ER232-3; SBR73]
  • For texts of the papers see BW2:227-42.
  • Note that a paper was delivered by Richard St. Barbe Baker. As a result of attending the conference he met a Bahá'í and dedicated the rest of his life in service to the Cause. [Bahá'í Chronicles]
  • * Interfaith dialogue; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Afnan; Conferences, Other; Horace Holley; London, England; Mountfort Mills; Richard St. Barbe Baker; Ruhi Afnan; United Kingdom
    1922 (Late May)
    192-
    The communities of London, Manchester and Bournemouth elected a Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly for England. [EJR213; SBR28, 67]
  • This was also known as the Spiritual Assembly for London and the All-England Bahá'í Council. [EJR2 13; SBR67]
  • See EJR213 and SBR28 for membership.
  • The social centre of the London group was Ethel Rosenburg with Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper and later Lady Blomfield also playing significant roles. The group in Manchester came from the working- or lower middle-class background with Edward Hall and other men in leadership positions. The group in Bournemouth developed around Dr. Esslemont. In addition to these centres there were a few scattered isolated believers. [SBBH5p220]
  • All-England Bahá'í Council; Bournemouth, England; Edward T. Hall; Ethel Rosenberg; John Esslemont; Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; London, England; Manchester, England; Mary Virginia Thornburgh-Cropper (Maryam Khánum); Spiritual Assemblies; United Kingdom
    1928 Jan (toward the end of the month)
    192-
    The Chicago community held its first Race Amity Conference. Louis Gregory was a speaker at that gathering. [SYH147] Chicago, IL; Conferences, Race Amity; Louis G. Gregory; Race; Race unity
    1929 6–26 Nov
    192-
    The case of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was taken before the sixteenth session of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations. [BW4:237]
  • The text of the petition was conceived and drafted by Monfort Mills. Shoghi Effendi paid tribute to his work in a letter dated March 20, 1929. [BA180]
  • The right of the Bahá'ís to the House was upheld and the government of Iraq was strongly pressed to find a solution but the House was not returned to the Bahá'ís. [BW4:237; GBF35; PP96–7]
  • See Minutes of the Sixteenth Session, 1929, by Permanent Mandates Commission
  • Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq; League of Nations; Mountfort Mills
    1928 26 Oct-13 Nov
    192-
    The case of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was taken before the fourteenth session of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations. [BW3:207]
  • The right of the Bahá'ís to the House was upheld and the government of Iraq was strongly pressed to find a solution but the House was not returned to the Bahá'ís. [BW3:207–9; GBF35; PP96–7]
  • For Shoghi Effendi's comment on these developments see BW3:206–9.
  • The Shí'ís turned the House into a Husayníyyih, where the martyrdom of the Imám Husayn is mourned. [BBD113–14]
  • See Minutes of the Fourteenth Session, 1928, by Permanent Mandates Commission.
  • Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Imam Husayn; Iraq; League of Nations
    1928 13 Dec
    192-
    The case arising out of the newspaper persecution of the Bahá'ís of Turkey was brought before a criminal tribunal. [PP316]
  • The Bahá'ís were able to make known the history and tenets of the Faith. [PP316–17; UD78–9]
  • - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Persecution, Turkey; Turkey
    1920 (in the year)
    192-
    The British Mandate for Palestine began. [BBR488]
  • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's attitude to the administration see BBR339.
  • For British accounts of `Abdu'l-Bahá and the Bahá'ís in this period see BBR339-43 and CH225-8.
  • For details see SA140-3.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); History (general); Israel; Palestine; United Kingdom, History (general)
    1927 29 Apr
    192-
    The British delegates, at their first National Convention, elected ten members because there were an equal number of votes for ninth and tenth places. [EJR253; UD70–1]
  • One of the members was a Rev. Biggs. [EJR253; UD71]
  • Shoghi Effendi wrote on 13 May recommending that next year the number of members be strictly confined to nine. In an earlier letter written on his behalf he explained that all of the delegates were to choose nine members of the National Assembly from all of those eligible. Prior to that time the understanding was that, for example, the London delegates would vote for a proportional number of persons from the London area, the Manchester delegates would choose a number of members based on their proportion of the total Bahá'í population. [EJR253; UD70, SETEP1p140]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Conventions, National; First conventions; National Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; United Kingdom First National Convention of the United Kingdom
    1929 9 Sep
    192-
    The British Bahá'ís opened their new centre, at Walmar House, Upper Regent Street, London. [PSBW46–7] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); London, England; United Kingdom
    1921 (In the year)
    192-
    The birth of Eduardo Duarte Vieira, the first African Bahá'í martyr, was born in Portuguese Guinea. - Births and deaths; Eduardo Duarte Vieira; Guinea Bissau; Portuguese Guinea
    1921 - 1944/46
    192-
    The beginning of The First Epoch of the Formative Age. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 5 February 1986; Mess63-86 p710-716]
  • See the attachment for the above-referenced message entitled The Epochs of the Formative Age prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.
  • It began with the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and ended with the conclusion of the first Seven Year Plan pursued by the Bahá'ís of North America under Shoghi Effendi's direction in which the skeleton of the Administrative Order was set up. [Mess86-01p815]
  • Cycles, Eras, Ages and Epochs; Formative Age
    1925 (In the year)
    192-
    The Bahá'í Esperanto magazine, La Nova Tago (The New Day) was first published. [BBRSM150]
  • It continued publication until 1937. [BBRSM150]
  • * Publications; - Periodicals; Esperanto; La Nova Tago (The New Day) first publication La Nova Tago (The New Day)
    1923 Jul
    192-
    The Bahá'ís appealed to the Peace Court for possession of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád. [SETPE1p26] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1921 - 1980
    192-
    The Bahá'í community of Iran began publishing a monthly magazine called Aḵbār-e amrī, a publication whose name means "News of the Cause". Containing the holy writings of the Bahá'í faith, domestic and foreign Bahá'í news, official announcements of Bahá'í administrative bodies, and articles on various aspects of the Faith, the magazine became a vital means of communication and a register of the main historical events for six decades until its closing in 1980. It was published by "Lajnih-yi Nashr-i Nafahát" (Committee for the Diffusion of the Divine Fragrances) until 1978 and then by Mahfil-i Ruhání-yi Millí-yi Baháiyán-i Írán (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran) [BAHAISM v. The Bahai Community in Iran by V. Rafati; BWNS1289]
  • Scanned copies from B.E. 102 to B.E. 111 and B.E. 116 were taken from bound copies of the journal originally owned by Mr Hormuzdiar Sabet and contain his annotations, frequently noting the original English text that has been translated in the journal.
  • * Publications; - First publications; - Newsletters; - Periodicals; Akhbar-i-Amri (News of the Cause); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Iran
    1927 (In the year)
    192-
    The Baghdád believers took photographs of the cave in the Sargul Mountain near Sulaymáníyyih where Bahá'u'lláh spent two years in solitude. [BW2Surveyp.33, SETPE1p141] * Bahaullah (chronology); Baghdad, Iraq; Caves; Iraq; Kurdistan; Mountains; Photography; Sar Galu Mountain (Iraq); Sulaymaniyyih, Iraq
    1920 early Jan
    192-
    The arrival of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's hand-built seven-seater Cunningham touring car made in Rochester NY by James Cunningham and Sons. The automobile probably cost in the range from $7,500 to $8.000 and was a gift from Mrs Ella Goodall Cooper. [Coachbuilt website]
    Mr. Fujita accompanied the shipment from the United States to Haifa where he maintained the car and was one of the drivers. The Master gave Shoghi Effendi instructions to see that it was cleared and delivered to the house after receiving notice of its arrival from Port Said. Although it was not a business day, he succeeded in getting the car delivered by taking the papers to the homes of various officials, asking them to sign the documents and give the necessary orders for the car of Sir 'Abdu'l-Baha 'Abbas to be delivered to Him at once.
    Although Abdul-Baha rode in the Cunningham car on occasions, it was predominantly used for transporting the pilgrims. The car has since been restored and pilgrims have the opportunity to see it. [PP28, Reflections on the Bahá'í Writings; PG126]
    * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Cars; Ella Goodall Cooper; Gifts; Haifa, Israel; Pilgrimage; Saichiro Fujita
    1929 May
    192-
    The American National Spiritual Assembly incorporated as a voluntary Trust. [BBRSM122; GPB335]
  • This enabled the National Spiritual Assembly to hold property, to receive bequests and to enter into contracts. [BBRSM122; GPB335–6]
  • National Spiritual Assemblies; United States (USA); Voluntary trusts
    1925 Jan
    192-
    The American Bahá'ís published Shoghi Effendi's revised Hidden Words. [EJR255]
  • Another translation was made in 1926–7. [EJR254; GT55–8]
  • * Publications; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Translation; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Kalimat-i-Maknunih (Hidden Words); Shoghi Effendi, Translations by; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; United States (USA)
    1922 6 Jun
    192-
    The All-England Bahá'í Council met for the first time. [SBR28; UD9, 468]
  • EJR2 13 says it first met 17 June.
  • The meeting was held in the home of Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper. [SBR28, 67]
  • All-England Bahá'í Council; Firsts, other; Mary Virginia Thornburgh-Cropper (Maryam Khánum); United Kingdom first meeting of the future NSA of British Isles
    1922 7 Jan
    192-
    The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá was read publicly at his house to an assembled gathering of Bahá'ís from many countries. [EJR199-200]
  • Shoghi Effendi was again absent. [EJR200]
  • The Greatest Holy Leaf sent two cables to Persia, informing the Bahá'ís that Shoghi Effendi had been appointed Guardian and instructing them to hold memorial services for `Abdu'l-Bahá. [PP47]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, House of (Haifa); Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Guardianship; Haifa, Israel; Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
    1922 3 Jan
    192-
    The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá was read aloud for the first time, to a group of nine men, mainly senior members of `Abdu'l-Bahá's family. [BBRSM115; CB286; ER194; GBF14; PP45]
  • Shoghi Effendi was not present at the reading. [CB286; ER194]
  • Shoghi Effendi was appointed Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith. [WT11]
  • Shoghi Effendi had no fore-knowledge of the institution of the Guardianship nor that he would be appointed Guardian. [CB285; PP423]
  • The fact that Shoghi Effendi was to become 'Abdu'l-Bahá's successor was a well-guarded secret. The person who was privy to this appointment was the Greatest Holy Leaf. Another was a non-Bahá'í woman, Dr J. Fallscheer, a German physician who lived in Haifa and attended the ladies of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's household. When Shoghi Effendi was a child, 'Abdu'l-Bahá clearly stated to her that Shoghi Effendi would be His successor. But this information was not communicated to anybody else. [CoC30; PP1-2]
  • For a list of topics covered by the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá see GPB328.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Basic timeline, Condensed; - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; Bahji, Israel; Covenant; Guardianship; Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
    1922 25 Feb
    192-
    The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá was written entirely in 'Abdu'l-Bahá's own hand and it was Shoghi Effendi's first translation for the believers in the West. It was sent to New York and addressed to "The beloved of God and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout the United states of America and Canada". The "Will" delineated the Bahá'í World Order, already founded in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, and of which 'Abdul'-Bahá was the architect. [AY304]iiiii * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Translation; Firsts, other; Haifa, Israel; New York, USA; Shoghi Effendi, Translations by; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; United States (USA); Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá first translation for the believers in the West.
    1920 17 May
    192-
    The Tablet to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace was delivered to the Executive Comittee in The Hague.

    Ahmad Yazdáni and 'Alí Muhammad 'Ibn-i-Asdaq learned that the Central Organization had been all but dissolved and that the Executive Committee's objective, to hold a third peace conference, had been surpassed by their country's membership in the recently formed League of Nations in Geneva. [AB438; BBD1 15; GPB308; EB176]

  • See also The Journey of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to The Hague. It is a photographic chronology by Jelle and Adib de Vries of the Netherlands.
  • See BWNS1378 and BWNS1431.
  • It was printed in the Star of the West Vol 11 No 8 1 August 1920.

    On the 12th of June, the Executive Committee of the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague responded to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet. Ahmad Yazdani immediately forwarded it to Haifa.

  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Central Organization for a Durable Peace; Haifa, Israel; Ibn-i-Aṣdaq (Mírzá `Alí-Muḥammad); Lawh-i-Hague (Tablet to The Hague); Netherlands; Peace; The Hague, Netherlands; World peace
    1928 11 - 12 Feb
    192-
    The 'Conference for Inter-Racial Amity' was arranged by Inter-Racial Amity Committee of the Bahá'ís of Montreal'. There were three sessions in three venues: the YMCA, Channing Hall, and the Union Congregational Church. Speakers included Louis Gregory ('International Lecturer on Race Relations') and Agnes MacPhail, first Canadian woman Member of Parliament. [The Bahá'í 'Race Amity' Movement and the Black Intelligentsia in Jim Crow America: Alain Locke and Robert Abbot by Christopher Buck page 34, Bahá'í Studies Review, 17, pages 3-46, 2011, BW7p660]
  • See BW6p659-664 for the essay by Louis Gregory entitled "Racial Likenesses and Differences: The Scientific Evidence and the Bahá'í Teachings".
  • Date conflict: "The Origins of the Bahá'í Community of Canada, 1898-1948 by Will C. van den Hoonaard on page 90 says: "and on 2-4 March 1930 The Montreal Bahá'ís held Race Amity meeting." His source was the National Bahá'í Archives Canada, Notes on Montreal Bahá'í History.
  • SYH147 confirms the conference in Montréal was in "mid-February".
  • Agnes MacPhail; Canada; Conferences, Race Amity; Louis G. Gregory; Montreal, QC; Quebec, Canada; Race; Race amity; Race unity
    1922 22 Feb
    192-
    Subsequent to the decision of the Court of Appeal the government of Iraq took over the keys for the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád. [SETPE1p26] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1926 30 Nov
    192-
    Sir Ronald Storrs (b. 1881 - d. 1955) was appointed Governor of Cyprus (30 Nov 1926 - 29 Oct 1932) Cyprus; Ronald Storrs
    1921 summer
    192-
    Siegfried Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, became a Bahá'í. - Hands of the Cause; Siegfried Schopflocher
    1922 Apr c.
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi, in a letter to Bahíyyih Khánum, advised her that he would be taking a leave of absence from his duties as the Guardian. He appointed her to administer all Bahá'í affairs in his absence in consultation with the family of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Assembly he had recently appointed. [GBF19; PP57, 276]
  • Those appointed to the Haifa Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly were organized by Bahíyyih Khánum. [SETPE1p50; PP57] Mirza 'Azizu'lláh S. Bahadur was appointed to deal with Shoghi Effendi's correspondence during his absence and again during his second absence in the summer of 1923. [SYH119]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Haifa Spiritual Assembly (1922-1938)
    1922 21 Jan
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi wrote to the two major communities of the Faith, Persia and America, urging the believers to arise in service for the triumph of the Cause. [BA15-17; CB298-300; CT154]
  • See SoW Vol 13 No 1 21 March 1922 p17-18 for the letter to the Bahá'ís of America..
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre
    1923 3 Feb
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi wrote to the editors and manager of the Star of the West Albert Vail Miss Edna True Dr. Zia M. Baghdádí Mírzá Aḥmad Sohrab. He reported that he had requested every Spiritual Assembly throughout Persia, Turkestan, Caucasus, India, Egypt, 'Iráq, Turkey, Syria and Palestine to contribute periodically carefully written articles to the magazine, and submit regularly for publication a special report on their spiritual activities and the progress of the Cause in their own province. [Uncompiled Published Letters p30 by Shoghi Effendi]
  • He sent a similar note of encouragement to the editor of the Indian Bahá'í News and to the editors of The Dawn in Burma. [PP347-348; Uncompiled Published Letters p36 by Shoghi Effendi]
  • * Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre; - First publications; - Newsletters; - Periodicals; Albert Vail; Bahá'í News India; Dawn, The (newsletter); Edna True; India; Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; Myanmar; New York, USA; Star of the West; Zia Bagdadi
    1925 10 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi wrote to the American National Spiritual Assembly indicating that the word 'assembly' was to apply only to the elected body of nine believers in each locality or to the national assembly, not to the believers as a whole. They had been using the term to mean the community of Bahá'ís. [BA83; SBBH258] Administration; Local Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assemblies; Spiritual Assemblies; United States (USA)
    1922 5 Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi wrote to the American Bahá'ís calling for the establishment of local assemblies wherever nine or more believers reside and directing that all activities be placed under the authority of the local and national assemblies. [BA17-25; BBRSM120-1; CB300] * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Administration; Local Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assemblies; Shoghi Effendi, Works of
    1923 12 Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi wrote to Bahá'ís in America, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Japan and Australasia about Bahá'í administration, outlining the process for annual elections of assemblies and calling for the establishment of local and national funds. [BA34-43; PP330]
  • See ER223-4 for the response of the British Bahá'ís.
  • In the same letter, as a Post Script, he included a list of the best known and most current Bahá'í terms transliterated with a recommendation that this be adopted as standard for all Western Bahá'ís with a promise that the Haifa Spiritual Assembly would provide a supplement. The transliteration scheme was mostly based on a standard adopted by the Tenth International Congress of Orientalists which took place in Geneva in September 1894. [BA43; PG208-209]
  • From the June 1923 issue of Star of the West, attempts were made to introduce the voting system although these are at first very patchy. The first books that appeared to be trying to put the system into use are Esslemont's Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era and Herrick's Unity Triumphant (the latter not entirely consistently), both published in 1923. Although some books appearing in 1924 did not follow the system, from this time on, books and other printed material published under Bahá'í auspices have followed it. [Transliteration by Mojan Momen]
  • A list of transliterated terms appeared in BW1p131 and expanded lists appeared in subsequent volumes.
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Administration; Elections; Funds; Haifa, Israel; Local Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assemblies; Transliteration and diacritics
    1921 (early) Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi visited the Bahá'í community of Manchester. At his first meeting with the friends he reported on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's reaction to the news that Nora Crossley had cut off her hair and offered it for auction to raise funds as her contribution for the construction of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Chicago.
  • See Some Bahá'ís to Remember p56 for the Tablet that 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent to Nora Crossley and the circumstances under which Shoghi Effendi presented it, as well as gifts from 'Abdu'l-Bahá, to her in the presence of the Bahá'ís of Manchester.
  • Although not one to allow pictures to be taken of himself, Shoghi Effendi insisted that a photo be taken of himself with the Manchester group. It can be seen at Worldwide Community of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • See as well Memoirs of Nora Crossely: 1921. She writes that ...all the honours that were showered on me by the Beloved Master, were NOT solely because of my gift to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, as most people think, but because I loved Him so much, I was prepared to obey Him, and carry out His wishes, AT ALL COST."
  • See also A Tribute to Nora Crossley by Rob Wienberg and the video based on Rob's paper.
  • Manchester, England
    1922 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi sent verbal messages through Consul Schwarz to Germany and Ethel Rosenberg to Britain to form local spiritual assemblies and to arrange for the election of a national spiritual assembly in each country. [CB293; EJR209, 211-12; PP56] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Albert Schwarz; Ethel Rosenberg; Germany; Local Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assemblies; Spiritual Assemblies; United Kingdom
    1923 Feb
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi sent his early translation of The Hidden Words to America in February of 1923. In all probability he send a copy to the Bahá'ís of London as well because the Bahá'í Assembly at London published it under the cover title of Hidden Words, Words of Wisdom, Prayers. [PP205; Collins 5.54]
  • This was reprinted in New York by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee in 1924 and again in 1925. [Collins 1.55 - 1.56]
  • A revised translation The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh was publish in 1929 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Shoghi Effendi acknowledged the assistance of "some English friends" (George Townshend, John Esslemont and Ethel Rosenberg. [Collins 1.57]
  • The Guardian's next and last revision of the text took place in 1954. [Unveiling the Hidden Words by Dianna Malouf p75; Collins 1.63]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Translation; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Kalimat-i-Maknunih (Hidden Words); Shoghi Effendi, Translations by; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; United States (USA)
    1929 Sep
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi sailed from England to Cape Town and proceeded overland to Cairo. [PP180–1, SETPE1p163]
  • He travelled through East Africa passing through Rhodesia where he visited the grave of Cecil Rhodes and further north in Rhodesia to see the Victoria Falls.
  • He rode as a passenger with an English hunter through part of East Africa and travelled on a train for some five hundred miles.
  • He crossed the Nile River through a papyrus swamp on a ferry.
  • He was back in Haifa by October. [SETPE1p163]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Africa; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Cairo, Egypt; Cape Town, South Africa; Egypt; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; South Africa; United Kingdom
    1922 15 Dec
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi returned to the Holy Land to take up his duties as Guardian. [PP63-4]
  • He sent cablegrams to a number of national communities announcing his return and his eagerness to resume the work. [PP64-5]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Guardianship; Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1924 Sep
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi returned to the Holy Land after an absence of some six months. [BA65-7; BBRSM117; UD279] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of
    1923 Nov (Sometime before 14 Nov)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi returned from Switzerland. [PP73] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1926 15 Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi returned from Switzerland where he had been joined by his mother and sister in August. [SETPE1p133, Ambassador at the Court chapter 8] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1927 Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi retranslated the Hidden Words.
  • He was assisted by George Townshend and Ethel Rosenberg, the 'English friends' mentioned on the title page. [EJR246–7, 253–6; GT109, SETPE1p126]
  • This was to be the start of an 18 year relationship of collaboration between Shoghi Effendi and George Townshend in the translation of the Writings. As well as Hidden Words, he worked on Kitáb-i-Íqán, The Dawn-Breakers, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, God Passes By and by suggesting titles and writing introductions for The Dawn-Breakers and God Passes By. [SETPE1p127]
  • * Publications; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Translation; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Ethel Rosenberg; George Townshend; Kalimat-i-Maknunih (Hidden Words); Shoghi Effendi, Translations by; Shoghi Effendi, Works of
    1927 (Mid-Oct to 1 Nov)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi retired to the mountains of Switzerland to rest and re-gain his strength. (SETPE1p150, DND20] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1925 6 Nov
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi reported in a letter that the case of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was then before the court of the First Instance and had been postponed for some time. He stated that, should the appeal be successful, the opponents were likely to refer the case to the Court of Appeal and, should that happen, the government would likely delay the return of the keys for the House. [BA76; UD38] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq
    1929 25 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi made the sacrifice of a priceless carpet to be sold to contribute to the Mashriqu'lAdhkar Fund. Mr. George Spendlove, a believer exceptionally qualified by expert knowledge and experience was asked to undertake the responsible task of arranging for the sale of this rug. It was valued at some $20,000 "Am sacrificing the most valuable ornament of Baha'u'llah's Shrine in order to consecrate and reinforce the collective endeavors of the American believers speedily to consummate Plan for Unified Action. Appeal for unprecedented self-sacrifice."--Cablegram, April 25, 1929.

    "Soon. shipping silken carpet from Baha'u'llah's Shrine as crowning gift on altar of Bahá'í sacrifice."--Cablegram, April 28, 1929.

    "Moved by an impulse that I could not resist, I have felt impelled to forego what may be regarded as the most valuable and sacred possession in the Holy Land for the furthering of that noble enterprise which you have set your hearts to achieve. With the hearty concurrence of our dear Bahá'í brother, Ziaoullah Asgarzadeh, who years ago donated it to the Most Holy Shrine, this precious ornament of the Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh has been already shipped to your shores, with our fondest hope that the proceeds from its sale may at once ennoble and reinforce the unnumbered offerings of the American believers already accumulated on the altar of Bahá'í sacrifice." Letter, October 25, 1929.

    "Shoghi Effendi informs you that the rug can be offered for sale among Baha'is and nonBahá'í alike."-Soheil A/nan, December 12, 1929. [BN No 38 February 1930 insert]

    Chicago, IL; Funds; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette
    1929 summer
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi made plans to hold an international conference to consider, among other things, how to establish national spiritual assemblies as a prelude to the Universal House of Justice. [PP250]
  • He cancelled the conference when he perceived that the Bahá'ís would find it a source of confusion and misunderstanding. [BBRSM126; PP250]
  • - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Spiritual Assemblies; Universal House of Justice
    1920 11 Jun
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi made application to Balliol College at Oxford University as a non-collegiate student for a period of two years. [PG134] * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Balliol College, Oxford University; France; Neuilly, France; Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom; Universities
    1924 late Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi left the Holy Land in an effort to recuperate his health. [BKC200-208] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of
    1922 5 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi left the affairs of the Faith in the hands of the Greatest Holy Leaf and departed the Holy Land for Europe, accompanied by his eldest cousin. On his way to the Bernese Oberland he went to Germany for medical consultations where they found that he had almost no reflexes [PP57; GBF19-20]
  • See BA25 for his reasons for his departure.
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Europe; Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of
    1927 Jun
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi left Palestine destined for Switzerland in the company of his sister. [Ambassador at the Court Chapter 8] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1923 Jun
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi left Haifa for Switzerland. [PP72; BBRSM116]
  • He returned to Haifa in November 1923. [BRRSM116]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Haifa, Israel; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1920 20 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi left Haifa for France with the intention of taking up his study of English at Oxford University. As instructed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá he stayed in a sanitarium in Neuilly (Maison d'Hydrothérapie et de convalescence du Parc de Neuilly, 6 Boulevard du Château, Neuilly-sur-Seine) before leaving for England in July. [SEO58]
  • See AY179-186 for and account of Shoghi Effendi's stay in the Paris area. According to Marzieh Gail he was probably in the area from about the 9th of April until the 13th of July.
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Balliol College, Oxford University; France; Haifa, Israel; Neuilly, France; Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1921 16 Dec
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi left England for Haifa in the company of Lady Blomfield and his sister Rouhangeze [Rúhangíz]. Lady Blomfield stayed on in the Holy Land for several months to assist Shoghi Effendi in his new role as the Guardian. [GBF13-14; PP42; SBR66]
  • Due to passport difficulties Shoghi Effendi could not leave sooner. [GBF13; PP42; SBR66; PG202]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Haifa, Israel; Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; London, England; Rouhangeze (Ruhangiz); United Kingdom
    1920 28 Jul
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi journeyed from Oxford to London to attend the weekly public Bahá'í meeting at Lindsay Hall in Notting Hill Gate. Ethel Rosenberg welcomed Shoghi Effendi, Dr. John Esslemont, who was visiting from Bournemouth, Helen Grand and Grace and Harlan Ober from the United States also attended. After short introductory remarks from Miss Rosenberg, both Grace and Harlan Ober spoke. Shoghi Effendi chanted a Persian prayer. [EJR228] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Ethel Rosenberg; Grace Robarts Ober; Harlan Ober; Helen Grand; John Esslemont; London, England; United Kingdom
    1925 (In the year)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi established the International Bahá'í Archives on Mount Carmel, one site adjoining the Shrine of the Báb and the other was located in the immediate vicinity of the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf. [GPB347]
  • See the instructions given by Bahá'u'lláh regarding the preservation of Texts in Archives, Bahá'í: Preserving and Safeguarding the Sacred Texts by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice.
  • Note that the function of the archives was written into the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice:

      "To ensure the preservation of the Sacred Texts and to safeguard their inviolability; to analyse, classify, and coordinate the Writings; and to defend and protect the Cause of God and emancipate it from the fetters of repression and persecution;"
  • Messages were sent by Shoghi Effendi and on behalf of Shoghi Effendi regarding the Importance of collecting and safeguarding Bahá'í Writings as well as establishing local archives. This and subsequent appeals included a call for the donation of relics related to the history of the Faith as well as transcriptions of talks given by the Master.. [Writings, Bahá'í: Importance of collecting and safeguarding compiled by Bahá'í International Archives, published in Bahá'í Studies Review 11, pages 100-102 (2003)
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; - Bahá'í World Centre; Archives; Archives; International Bahá'í Archives
    1927 Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi entrusted Dr William Slater and his wife Ida Slater, who were visiting Haifa on a 19-day pilgrimage, with carpets from the Shrines of the Báb and 'Abdu'l-Bahá for the House of Worship in Chicago. [SETPE1p149] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Carpets; Gifts; Haifa, Israel; Ida Slater; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; United States (USA); William Slater; Wilmette, IL
    1920 Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi entered Balliol College, Oxford University. [CB284; DH149; GBF11-12]
  • For his purpose in going to Oxford see GBF12.
  • For his time in Oxford see PP34-8.
  • A Q Faizi is reported to have said, during a talk to pilgrims in May-June, 1965 that "Shoghi Effendi was sent to Oxford to protect him from potential enemies, not to learn English or be educated." [SDSC273]
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Balliol College, Oxford University; Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom; Universities
    1926 May (Near end)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi departed Palestine for Switzerland. [PP97, SETPE1p131, GBF36] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Switzerland
    1920 19 Jul
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi departed from France two weeks after receiving 'Abdu'l-Bahá's permission to study at Oxford. According to Dr J. Fallscheer, the German woman physician that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had engaged to attend to the ladies of His household, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had decided to send Shoghi Effendi to England while he was still in high school. [PG137-138] * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Balliol College, Oxford University; France; Josephina Fallscher; Oxford, England; Paris, France; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1929 (In the year)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi completed the construction of the building at 10 Haparsim Street, which was designed as a hostel for western pilgrims, and adopted the custom of taking the evening meal with them in the dining room on the lower level. He usually met with the eastern pilgrims in the pilgrim house next to the Shrine of the Báb. [Bahá'í Pilgrimage] Haifa, Israel; Pilgrim House, Western (Haifa); Pilgrim Houses; Pilgrimage
    1922 Feb-Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi called together a group of well-known Bahá'ís to discuss the future development of the Faith and the possible election of the Universal House of Justice. It was the commonly held opinion of the members of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's family, the British officials in Palestine, many believers and indeed Shoghi Effendi himself as evidenced by his letter to Persia dated 16 January, 1922, that the Universal House of Justice would be elected. [BBRSM:120, 126; EJR207; PP247-8]
  • Those invited to attend were: Major Tudor Pole, Ethel Rosenberg and Lady Blomfield from England; Emogene Hoagg (she had been living in Haifa for some time at this point), Laura and Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney from France, Consul and Alice Schwarz from Germany, Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí of Burma, Roy Wilhelm, Mountfort Mills, Mason Remey, from North America as well as Corinne True and her daughter Katherine. Two well-known Bahá'í teachers from Persia, Avarih and Fazel had been invited to attend but due to complications their arrival was long delayed. [EJR207-8; PP55]
  • In a letter dated the 5th of March, 1922 Shoghi Effendi urged the Bahá'ís to subordinate firmly and definitely all personal likings and local interests to the interests and requirements of the Cause. He called for the establishment of local spiritual assemblies in every locality where the number of adult believers exceeded nine. He also described the tasks and functions of the assemblies saying that they would evolve into the local and national Houses of Justice. [PP248; SBR66]
  • See UD3-9; BA17-25 for the letter.
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Universal House of Justice; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline
    1922 4 Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi cabled for a list of all believers in the United States and Canada over 21 years of age. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p22] - Bahá'í World Centre; Statistics
    1921 25 Apr - 23 Jun
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - The Trinity Term at Balliol College 1921

  • The Trinity Term — 15 Sundays to 21 Sundays after the feast day of St Hilary.
  • In order to not waste any time during his stay at Oxford, in the first part of this term he made plans for a competent tutor to work with him during the upcoming long vacation. [PG173]
    • He sought the assistance of Ethel Rosenburg and Miss Cropper to secure a place with Reynold Nicholson as his tutor. He was professor of Persian and Arabic at Cambridge and was known for his translation of Rumi into English. [SEO106]
    • During this term he was able to socialize with his fellow students and participate in college clubs such as the Lotus Club where he presented a paper. [PG177]
    • 4 May: Shoghi Effendi presented a paper to the Bahá'í community in London. [PG177]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Oxford, England; Reynold Nicholson; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1921 6 Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - The Michaelmas Term 1921
  • Shoghi Effendi continued his translation work. During his time in Oxford he acquired a love for The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon and could often be seen reading his abridged copy. He also admired the translation of the King James version of the Bible. [PG191-197]
  • 29 November: Shoghi Effendi was summoned to the office of Major Tudor-Pole at 61 St. James Street in London. [PG198]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1920 16 Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - The Michaelmas Term 1920

  • Because there wasn't a vacancy in Balliol College, Shoghi Effendi could not register during the first term. Although he was not registered in the College he attended every day and took instruction from tutors. During this time he took lodgings at 45 Broad Street. [PG151-155]
  • 23 October: Shoghi Effendi officially matriculated in the Non-Collegiate Delegacy, a week after starting lectures for the Michaelmas term (Oct-Christmas, or, more formally Michaelmas term — 13 Sundays before to 5 Sundays before the feast day of St Hilary). [PG157]
  • Shoghi Effendi hosted a visit from his childhood friend Ali Yazdi who was on his way to America to enroll at UC Berkley where he enrolled in an engineering program the following year. [RG 158-159]
           There he met and married Marion Carpenter in 1926. The couple went on pilgrimage in 1928. Shoghi Effendi and Ali Yazdi remained friends until the end of the Guardian's life. [UP-The Guardian Part VII]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1921 20 Jun - 3 Oct
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - The Long Vacation 1921

  • Those students who wished to continue their studies during the vacation were required to move to an annex situated near Manchester College known as Holywell Annexe.
  • His English style was influenced by his reading of the King James Bible as well as British historians Thomas Carlyle and Edward Gibbons, the author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. [SEO106; PP37]
  • At some point during this period of his residency in England Shoghi Effendi made the acquaintance of Sir E Denison Ross, the first director of the University of London's School of Oriental Studies. He was the British Empire's leading scholar of the Persian and Arabic languages. His opinion was the gold standard and he had high praise for Shoghi Effendi's translation of The Dawn-Breakers. [PP216]
  • Shoghi Effendi met with Edna True at her hotel in London as she was passing through. [PG178]
  • He visited Dr. Esslemont in Bournemouth probably around the 20th of July for two weeks. [PG179]
  • 26 July: He went to London to meet his sister and went with her to the home of Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper. [PG179]
  • At some point during the vacation he visited Crow-borough. [PG179]
  • Obedient to the instructions of the Master he spent some time during the break in rest in Torquay in August, at least from the 10th to the 29th of the month. [PG179-180]
  • 25 September (approx.) He travelled to London to sent his sister to Scotland to resume her studies. She had been staying with Mrs Thornburg-Cropper (at 20 Bloomsbury Square?). While there he met with Lady Blomfield. [PG181]
  • 1 to 6 October: Shoghi Effendi and his friend Díyá'u'lláh Asgharzádih travelled to Manchester, a community of some thirty believers. They stayed at the home of Jacob Joseph where a meeting of the community was held that evening. The group sent a letter to the Master which Shoghi Effendi translated the following day. He also sent a report of the situation in Manchester to the Master. [PG182-190]
  • See PG206-207 for a photo of Shoghi Effendi with the Manchester Bahá'ís and with the Joseph brothers.
  • See PG193 for a subsequent note from Shoghi Effendi to the friends in Manchester.
  • See PG193-194 for the Master's response to their joint supplication dated 18 October, 1921 and excerpts from Tablets to individuals.
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Bournemouth, England; London, England; Manchester, England; Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; Torquay, England; United Kingdom
    1921 Jan - mid Mar
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - The Hilary Term 1921
  • Permission was issued by the Non-Collegiate Delegacy for the migration of Shoghi Effendi into Balliol. He now had the privilege of living in the college and fully participating in college life. [PG161]
  • Shoghi Effendi continued his translation work while at Oxford. During the second term (Jan - Easter or, more formally Hilary term — 1 Sunday to 9 Sundays after the feast day of St Hilary). Some examples are: Persian Hidden Words, the Tablet of Visitation, Arabic Hidden Words and the Epistle to Queen Victoria.
  • He read a paper on the Faith to the Oxford University Asiatic Society. For the full text of the paper see PG227-240. The paper was serialized in "The Dawn", a monthly Bahá'í journal of Burma in 1923 - 1924. [PG168-169, 259]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Translation; - Newsletters; Dawn, The (newsletter); Myanmar; Oxford, England; Oxford University Asiatic Society; Shoghi Effendi, Writings of; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1921 mid Mar - 20 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi at Oxford - Spring Vacation 1921
  • 27 March: He visited his sister Rúhangíz in Scotland during the early part of his spring vacation.
  • In all likelihood, at some point he visited London and stayed at the home of Mírzá Yúhaná Dáwúd. [PG171]
  • Shoghi Effendi and spent the latter part of the vacation period in Sussex where he spent a few days in Fermote Villa for rest following 'Abdu'l-Bahá's instructions to do so. [PG171]
  • He continued to work on translations during this period. [PG171]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Oxford, England; Scotland; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; Sussex, England; United Kingdom
    1921 29 Dec
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi arrived in the Holy Land from England by train from Egypt. [GBF14; PP42]
  • An envelope addressed to him from 'Abdu'l-Bahá was waiting for him. It contained the Will and Testament. [Ruhi8.2p2; PP42]
  • He was so worn and grief-stricken that he had to be assisted up the stairs and was confined to bed for a number of days. [CB285]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; Egypt; Haifa, Israel; United Kingdom; Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
    1920 mid July - mid October
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi arrived in England to take up his studies at Oxford. His stated objective was:

      "My sole aim is to perfect my English, to acquire the literary ability to write it well, speak it well & translate correctly & eloquently from Persian & Arabic into English. My aim is to concentrate for two years upon this object & to acquire it through the help of a tutor, by attending lectures, by associating with cultured & refined literary circles & by receiving exercises in Phonetics. I would be much obliged if you could help me along that line." [SEO61]
  • He spent one week in London. He brought with him Tablets from the Master for Lady Blomfield, Lord Lamington and Major Tudor-Pole.
  • 21 July: Shoghi Effendi met Dr. Esslemont at a meeting of the believers Lindsay Hall in Notting Hill Gate. The meeting was also attended by Mr and Mrs Ober visiting from America.
  • 22 July: Dr Esslemont called on Shoghi Effendi at his hotel and they went to Miss Grand's home were the Obers were staying.
  • 23 July: Dr Esslemont met Shoghi Effendi at Miss Rosenberg's and together they went to the Grand home where some 17 people were introduced to the Faith. [PG141]
  • 26 July: Dr Esslemont came to London to meet Shoghi Effendi and they both visited Miss Herrick. [PG142]
  • He relocated to Oxford and stayed at the Randolph Hotel. He met with professors and looked for tutors. [PG142]
  • Probably in the early days of August Shoghi Effendi met with Lord Lamington. [PG142]
  • Although it was still the long vacation Shoghi Effendi started his work with the assistance of a tutor. [PG142]
  • 10-15 September: Shoghi Effendi visited Dr Esslemont at the sanitorium where he practiced in Bournemouth. They were joined by Shoghi Effendi's sister Rúhangíz and by a Persian believer Aflátún. [PG142-143]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Translation; Bournemouth, England; London, England; Oxford, England; Shoghi Effendi at Oxford; United Kingdom
    1925 30 Nov
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi appointed Dr. John Esslemont a Hand of the Cause of God.
  • With the passing of Dr Esslemont Shoghi Effendi was left without qualified administrative assistance. This situation remained in place until the formation of the International Bahá'í Council in 1951. [PP92-95, SETPE1p112]
  • - Hands of the Cause; Haifa, Israel; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; John Esslemont
    1927 (Mid-Oct)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the defection of 'Abdu'l-Husayn Ávarih (Abd al-Hosayn Ayati). He had been a very successful teacher and the author of a book on the history of the Faith but opposed Shoghi Effendi's efforts to build the Administrative Order. He was insistent that the Universal House of Justice be formed at that time. He was denounced by the believers in Egypt and Iran. [SETPE1p149, BA137-139, Ruhi8.2-20, CoC294-296; MBW53; PP120; ; BKC118-120]
  • After his defection he became a Muslim and an opponent of the Bahá'í Faith. He returned to Tehran and spent the rest of his life as a secondary school teacher. During this period he wrote many works of poetry and prose, including Kashf al-Hial, a three volume work refuting the Bahá'í Faith. He died in 1953.[Wikipedia]
  • See message from Shoghi Effendi regarding the civil rights of Avarih.
  • Two persons who were much influenced by Ávárih and who eventually joined him in apostasizing from the Bahá'í Faith and attacking it publicly were Faydu'lláh Subhí, who had served as `Abdu'l-Bahá's secretary for a number of years, and Hasan Níkú, who had visited India as a Bahá'í teacher and also went to Haifa in 1923. The latter published a three-volume work (Falsafiy-i-Níkú) attacking the Bahá'í Faith. [The Covenant and the Covenant-breaker by Moojan Momen]
  • `Abdu'l-Husayn Ávárih; Avarih; Covenant-breaking; Haifa, Israel
    1929 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the Council of the League of Nations had pronounced in favour of the Bahá'í petition regarding the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad. Unfortunately, King Faisal, a Sunni, relented under the pressure of the Shi'iah element and the property was never returned. [Bahá'í News Letter, no. 31 (April 1929), p.6, SETPE1p169]
  • See as well Minutes of the Sixteenth Session, 1929, by Permanent Mandates Commission
  • Baghdad, Iraq; Geneva, Switzerland; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Iraq; King Faisal; League of Nations; Switzerland
    1922 27 Feb
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi wrote to Professor Auguste Forel, advising him of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's passing and enclosing an English translation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's letter to Dr Forel written on the 21st of September, 1921. [The Life and Times of August Forel by Sheila Banani. [BW15p 37–43.] Auguste Forel
    1924 5 Apr
    192-
    Shaykh `Abdu'l-Majíd was beaten to death in Turshíz, Khurásán, Iran. [BW18:388] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Khurásán, Iran; Turshíz, Iran
    1927 11 Mar
    192-
    Sadie Oglesby and her daughter Bertha Parvine arrived in Haifa, the first black American women to make the pilgrimage. [TMW173, 206, SETPE1p141-145] - First pilgrims; Haifa, Israel; Pilgrims first black American women to make pilgrimage
    1928 31 Dec
    192-
    Ruth White, who had met 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in 1912 and who had been on pilgrimage in 1922, wrote to the High Commissioner of Palestine with a charge that the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá was a forgery. [SETPE1p157]
  • See AY103 for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's reaction to Ruth White in New York in 1912.
  • See FMH64-65 for the story of how her plans to convince Doris and Willard McKay of her theories were thwarted by the sudden arrival of their two dogs who had had a recent encounter with a skunk.
  • Covenant-breaking; New York, USA; Palestine; Ruth White; United States (USA); Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá
    1921 Sep - Apr 1922
    192-
    Roy Wilhelm had sent three generators to the Holy Land and had asked permission from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to have Curtis Kelsey come and install them. His request was granted and Curtis spent from September, 1921 until April, 1922 in the Holy Land. The units were installed at the Shrine of the Báb, (See SETPE1p38) at Bahjí (See SETPE1p55) and at the home of 'Abdu'l-Bahá at #7 Haparsin Street. The work was completed at all three locations on the last day of Ridván, 1922. [BW15p468-473] * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahji, Israel; Curtis Kelsey; Electrification of the Shrines; Haifa, Israel; Roy C. Wilhelm first lighting of the Holy Shrines.
    1925 13 Dec
    192-
    Ridá (or Reza) Sháh acceded to the throne of Iran. The Pahlaví dynasty commenced. [BBR482]

    During the period of the later Qajar shahs, namely Muzaffar al-Din (r. 1896–1907) , Muhammad-'Ali (r. 1907–9) and Ahmad (r. 1909–25) , the Iranian state became steadily weaker and sank into anarchy as a result of years of revolution, war, corruption, injustice, insecurity, and foreign intervention and occupation, all of which took a heavy toll on the local population. The country was thoroughly disappointed with the outcome of its hard-won freedom, the incompetence of successive cabinets, the inefficiency of the shahs, and the corruption of the bureaucracy. The continuous interference of foreign powers in Iran's affairs, especially Britain and Russia, combined with their excessive consular rights were a constant source of national humiliation and impotent dissension, which by 1921 had turned into loud, nationalistic protests throughout the country. The people looked for a strong government that would overcome these weaknesses. [The Forgotten Schools: The Bahá'ís and Modern Education in Iran, 1899–1934 p107]

    - Shahs; - Shahs, Throne changes; History (general); Iran; Iran, History (general); Pahlavi dynasty; Reza Shah Pahlavi
    1926 4 May
    192-
    Queen Marie of Romania wrote three articles as a testimonial to the Bahá'í Faith for a syndicated series entitled 'Queen's Counsel', which appeared in over 200 newspapers in the United States and Canada. [BBR61, HEC57-58, MR245, BW2p174-6]
  • For text of the articles see BBR60–1.
  • For Shoghi Effendi's response see BA110–13 and UD56–8.
  • Newspaper articles; Queen Marie of Romania; Romania; United States (USA)
    1922 (In the year)
    192-
    Oswald Whitaker, a Sydney optometrist, and Euphemia Eleanor `Effie' Baker, a photographer, become Bahá'ís, the first Australians to accept the Faith. [BW14:320; SBR160-1, BW2p129]
  • In the 1930s Effie Baker travelled to Persia to take photographs of historical sites. [BW14:320]
  • See SETPE1p105-107 for her contribution while serving in Haifa.
  • For Effie Baker's obituary see BW14:320-1.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Australia; Effie Baker; Iran; Oswald Whitaker; Photography the first Australians to accept the Faith
    1926 Jan
    192-
    Orcella Rexford and her husband Dr Gayne Gregory (the first to accept the Faith in Alaska) went to Haifa on pilgrimage and were technically the first from Alaska to do so. They were in the process of moving from Alaska to the Continental USA. [SETPE1p112-113 ]
  • See BW11p495-498 for for details of the life of Orella Rexford.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Alaska, USA; Haifa, Israel; Orcella Rexford; United States (USA) First person to accept the Faith in Alaska, first Alaskan pilgrims
    1926 (In the year)
    192-
    Opposition to the Faith began in Russia. [BW3:35; BBR473]
  • For details see BW3:34–43.
  • - Persecution; Persecution, Russia; Russia; Soviet Union
    1926 28 Oct
    192-
    One again Louise Gregory embarked from Boston to Liverpool on the SS Winifredian of the Leyland Line where she arrived on the 28th of October. After spending some time in Liverpool and York she stayed for a while in Bruessels and then went to Graz in Austria where she reconnected with the active Bahá'í group there. Her next stop was Vienna and then on to her destination, Budapest.

    In the spring of 1927 she went to Sofia, Bulgaria.where Martha Root had visited for 12 days in February.

    In June of 1927 Louise returned to New York in the United States from Boulongne-sur-Mer, France. During this trip she had visited Liverpool, York and London in England, Brussels in Belgium, Graz and Vienna in Austria, Budapest, Hungary and Sofia in Bulgaria. [SYH140-145, 240]

    Austria; Austria; Belgium; Brussels, Belgium; Budapest, Hungary; Bulgaria; Graz, Austria; Hungary; Liverpool, England; Louise Gregory; Sofia, Bulgaria; Teaching; United Kingdom; Vienna, Austria
    1921 4 Dec
    192-
    On the seventh day after the passing of `Abdu'l-Bahá, corn was distributed in His name to about a thousand of the poor.
  • Up to this day 50 to 100 poor were fed daily at the Master's House. [BW15:122]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Ascension of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, House of (Haifa); Haifa, Israel
    1925 21 Nov
    192-
    On his way from Iran to study at the American University of Beirut (then called the Syrian Protestant College) the 17-year-old Hasan Balyuzi spent two days in Haifa. Although from a prominent Bahá'í family he was neither knowledgeable nor confirmed in his faith. After having spent more than one hour with Shoghi Effendi his faith was confirmed and the course of his life was set. [SETPE1p110-111, BW18p637-651]
  • See BKG232 footnote for a by Hasan Balyuzi with a story about Mírzá Ahmad, a son of Mírzá Yahyá.
  • American University of Beirut; Beirut, Lebanon; Haifa, Israel; Hasan Balyuzi; Lebanon; Syrian Protestant College, Lebanon
    1928 28 Feb
    192-
    On her way from Zagreb to Czechoslovakia by train, Martha Root stopped in Maribor, Slovenia, and met with members of the Slovenian Esperantist Association. [State of Governance of Religious Communities in Former Yugoslavia and the Developments of the Bahá’í Community and Jehovah’s Witnesses Status by Aleksandra Zibelnik Badii p55] Balkans; Martha Root; Slovenia
    1925
    192-
    Of the 38 localities where Bahá'ís resided in Europe, 26 were in Germany. [BBRSM182] - Europe; Germany; Localities where Bahá'ís reside; Statistics
    1925 (During the year)
    192-
    National Spiritual Assemblies were formed in the Caucasus (Baku) and in Turkistan (Ashkhabad)about this time. Because these Assemblies were not chosen by the election of the members of the local spiritual assemblies or by representatives of the Bahá'í population as is the current practice, they should be considered as preliminary local and national Assemblies. [BW24p44]
  • They were disbanded in 1938 due to government pressure. [Bahaipedia]
  • Bandar Anzali, Iran; Caucasus; Ishqabad (Ashgabat); National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Turkmenistan
    1927 7 Jul
    192-
    Mr. Mountfort Mills received a cable from Shoghi Effendi through the Greatest Holy Leaf suggesting the American Assemblies send cables to His Excellency the High Commissioner in Baghdad, Iraq urging that the houses belonging to the Bahá'ís be restored to their rightful owners. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p26] Baghdad, Iraq; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); New York, USA
    1924 (In the year)
    192-
    Miss Nora Lee, who became a Bahá'í in New Zealand, was the first Bahá'í to travel to Fiji, working as a nanny in Labasa from 1924 to about 1930.
  • Gretta Lamprill became the first Bahá'í in Tasmania in the latter part of the year. [SBR162]
  • In 1924 Clara and Hyde Dunn spent three months in Hobart together with two Melbourne Baha'is. Their visit attracted a small number of individuals to the Bahá'í Faith, the first of whom was a nurse, Gretta Lamprill. She was gradually joined by others in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport. The first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Hobart was established in 1949, providing the basis for the effective functioning of the Baha'i community since that time. [Australian Baha'i Community site]
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Clara Dunn; Devonport, Australia; Fiji; Hobart, Australia; John Henry Hyde Dunn; Launceston, Australia; Tasmania, Australia first Bahá'í to travel to Fiji; first Bahá'í in Tasmania

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