Bahai Library Online

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

World Canada
   

Date 195-, sorted by event description, ascending

date event tags firsts
1954 11 Aug
195-
American librarian Fred Schechter arrived in South Africa by way of Djibouti, Nairobi and Addis Ababa. During his time in South Africa he assisted in the preparations for the election of the Regional Spiritual Assembly which was held at the Sears farm.

In 1958 he and Bill Sears Jr travelled to Uruguay, arriving in 1959. they participated in a campaign to raise up the second Local Spiritual Assembly in the country with Julia Bulling, a pioneer fro Chile. In 1960 Fred and Julia were married.

They were sent to the Dominican Republic in preparation for the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly but were diverted to Ecuador prior to the first elections in that country because Covenant issues had arisen. Their first son was born there.

A few months later the Hands of the Cause requested that they move to Uruguay where they both served on the National Spiritual Assembly. Their second son was born in Uruguay.

In 1965 they had to move back to the USA because of economic conditions. Their daughter was born in the United States.

Fred served on the Auxiliary Board and the the Continental Board of Counsellors from 1993 to 1998 and was a Counsellor at the International Teaching Centre. [KoB50-57]

- Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cape Town, South Africa; Chile; Continental Board of Counsellors; Ecuador; Fred Schechter; Uruguay
1954 19 Apr
195-
John and Valera Allen arrived in Swaziland from the United States and became the second and third Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for that country. Later that summer they were later joined by sons Dale and Kenton and Valera's 82 year old mother, Maude Fisher.

John, Dale, and Valera served on the National Assembly of South and West Africa for several years before the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland was formed. [PHBR16; KoB112-114]

For John Allens story see BW18p725.

For Maude Fisher's story see BW13p902.

- Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; John Allen; Maude Fisher; Setsembiso Sebunye High School, Swaziland; Valera Allen
1954 or 1955
195-
"The sacred dust of the Báb's infant son, extolled in the Qayyum-i-Asma, was respectfully and ceremoniously transferred on the anniversary of his Father's martyrdom, in the presence of pilgrims and resident believers to the Bahá'í cemetery in Shiraz, the prelude to the translation to the same spot of the remains of the Báb's beloved and long-suffering consort." [CBN No 65 June, 1955 p1]
  • The timing of the event is unclear. From the article, "the second year, second decade of the second century", it can be assumed that it took place on July 9th, 1955, however, the publication date was June, 1955.
  • Ahmad (son of the Báb); Iran; Shíráz, Iran
    1953 Aug
    195-
    'Abbás Vakíl arrived in Cyprus and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cyprus
    1953 Late in the year
    195-
    'Abdu'l-Karím Amín Khawja became a Bahá'í in Algeria, the first person to accept the Faith in that country. [BN No277 p8] - Africa; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Algeria first Bahá'í in Algeria
    1954 15 Jan
    195-
    'Abdu'l-Rahmán Zarqání, from India, arrived in the Seychelles and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Africa; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; India; Seychelles
    1953 Nov
    195-
    'Alí Akbar Rafí'í (Rafsanjání) and his wife, Sháyistih, and their 19-year-old son, 'Abbás, arrived in Tangier and all were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Morocco
    1955 15 Nov
    195-
    'Alí Muhammad Varqá was appointed a Hand of the Cause to succeed his father. [GBF111; MBW91] - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Varqá, `Alí-Muhammad; Varqá (disambiguation)
    1953 Oct
    195-
    'Amín Battáh, an Egyptian, arrived in Río de Oro (Western Sahara) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Africa; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Amin Battah; Western Sahara
    1954 (In the year)
    195-
    'Aynu'd-Dín and Táhirih 'Alá'í arrived in Southern Rhodesia and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Zimbabwe
    1954 Feb
    195-
    'Azízu'lláh and Shamsí Navídí with their daughters Vida and Giuilda arrived in Monaco and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]

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

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Monaco
    1953 6 Jun
    195-
    'Izzatu'lláh Zahrá'í (Ezzat Zahrai) arrived in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Africa; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Zimbabwe
    1955 Ridván
    195-
    (The) design (for the) Mother Temple (in the) cradle (of the) Faith (was) unveiled (in the) presence (of) pilgrims (and) resident believers assembled (within the) Haram-i-Aqdas (on the) first day (of) Ridvan. SHOGHI [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p1] Bahji, Israel
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Rolf Haug settled in Crete and iwa named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for that island. [BW13:450] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Crete, Greece; Rolf Haug
    1957 Nov-1963 Apr
    195-
    Interregnum

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

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

  • This period is known as the 'interregnum'. [BBD 120]
  • See BW14:467 for a summary of the work of the Hands of the Cause during this period.
  • The International Bahá'í Council continued to perform its duties at the World Centre under the direction of the Custodians. The appointed Council was replaced by an elected Council at Ridván of 1961. All National Assemblies and Regional National Assemblies participated in the election by postal ballot. [BBD118]
  • See alsoThe Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963: An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause.
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Bahá'í World Centre; - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Hands of the Cause; Appointed arm; Covenant; Custodians; Haifa, Israel; Hands of the Cause, Activities; International Bahá'í Council (1951-1963); Interregnum (1957-1963); Ministry of The Custodians (book); Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Universal House of Justice
    1957 4 Nov
    195-
    Passing of Shoghi Effendi

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

    • The 1957 influenza pandemic (the "Asian flu") was a category 2 flu pandemic outbreak of avian influenza that originated in China in early 1956 lasting until 1958. It originated from a mutation in wild ducks combining with a pre-existing human strain. A vaccine for H2N2 was introduced in 1957, and the pandemic slowed down. There was a second wave in 1958, and H2N2 went on to become part of the regular wave of seasonal flu. Estimates of worldwide deaths vary widely depending on the source, ranging from 1 million to 4 million, with WHO settling on "about two million". [Sino Biological website]
  • He was in London to purchase some furniture to complete the interior of the International Archives Building at the time of his passing. [PP445]
  • For a tribute to Shoghi Effendi written by Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum see BW13:58–226.]
      In it she lists four major aspects of his life: (Copied and arranged in point form here.)
    • "his translations of the Words of Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, Àbdu'l-Bahá and Nabil's Narrative;
    • his own writings such as the history of a century, published as God Passes By, as well as an uninterrupted stream of instructive communications from his pen which pointed out to the believer the significance, the time and the method of the building up of their administrative institutions;
    • an unremitting programme to expand and consolidate the material assets of a world-wide Faith, which not only involved the completion, erection or beautification of the Bahá'í Holy Places at the World Centre but the construction of Houses of Worship and the acquisition of national and local headquarters and endowments in various countries throughout the East and the West;
    • a masterly orientation of thought towards the concepts enshrined in the teachings of the Faith and the orderly classification of those teachings into what might well be described as a vast panoramic view of the meaning, implications, testing and purpose of the religion of Bahá'u'lláh, indeed of religious truth itself in its portrayal of man as the apogee of God's creation, evolving towards the consummation of his development-the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth." [PP226-227]
  • See also Rabbání, The Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith and The Priceless Pearl.
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Basic timeline, Condensed; - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Biography; Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum; Appointed arm; Covenant; International Archives Building (Haifa); London, England; Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; United Kingdom
    1953 23 Aug
    195-
    A memorial service was held for Hand of the Cause Siegfried Schopflocher at the Maxwell House. It was attended by the members of the National Spiritual Assembly who were meeting in Montreal that weekend. [CBN #45 Oct 1953 p2] Fred Schopflocher
    1954 Apr
    195-
    A mere eight months after settling in British Cameroons, Enoch Olinga, along with the community of new believers at his pioneering post received a cable from Shoghi Effendi asking for African believers to settle in British Togoland, French Togoland, the Ashanti Protectorate and in the Northern Territories Protectorate before the following Ridván.

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

    - Pioneers; Ashanti Protectorate, Ghana; Benedict Eballa; British Togoland (Ghana); Cameroon; David Tanyi; Edward Tabe; Enoch Olinga; French Togoland (Togo); Martin Manga; Northern Territories Protectorate; Samuel Njiki
    1954 Oct
    195-
    A National Haziratu'l-Quds was established in Kabul. [MBW70; 81] Afghanistan; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Kabul, Afghanistan
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    A new edition of Some Answered Questions was published by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee which resulted in some discussion with Laura Dreyfus Barney. At some point she had given the copyright to the Bahá'í Publishing Committee but she expected to be consulted on matters related to the book. She said that she did not consider Some Answered Questions "my book" but that "it is in my trust".

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

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

  • It had been published in Germany in 1959, the first nine chapters had been published in Korean in 1960 and in Italian by the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy and Switzerland in 1961. [LB236]
  • Chicago, IL; Laura Clifford Barney; Some Answered Questions (book)
    1959 Mar
    195-
    A number of Bahá'ís, members of the local spiritual assembly, were arrested in Ankara, Turkey. [MC306]
  • The incident received wide coverage in the press and the Bahá'ís were eventually released from prison. [MC306]
  • A court case was subsequently brought against the Bahá'ís by the public prosecutor, who claimed that the Faith is a 'Tarighat', a sect forbidden by the law of the land, and lengthy litigation followed. [MC306–7]
  • - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Court cases; Ankara, Turkey; Court cases; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Persecution, Turkey; Turkey
    1954 Nov
    195-
    A plot of land of slightly less than half an acre (1,300 metres) owned by Farah Sprague (Farahangiz Khanum), a Covenant-breaker, was purchased (after expropriation by the Finance Minister of the state of Israel on the recommendation of the mayor of Haifa), overcoming the final obstacle to beginning the construction of the International Bahá'í Archives. This concluded a thirty-year struggle in the acquisition of land on the Arc for the Guardian. [LI210-211; DH169; MBW73–4; CBN No 60 January 1955 p1]
  • He said, in a letter dated the 27th of November 1955...

      "The truculence, greed and obstinacy, of this breaker of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, demonstrated by her persistent refusal to sell and by the exorbitant price subsequently demanded, raised, during more than thirty years, an almost insurmountable obstacle to the acquisition of an area, which, however circumscribed, occupies a central position amidst the extensive Baha'i domains in the heart of God's holy Mountain, is situated in the vicinity of the Báb's Sepulchre, overlooks the Tomb of the Greatest Holy Leaf, and adjoins the resting-places of the Brother and the Mother of Abdu'l-Bahá, and which, through deliberate neglect, has. been allowed to become an eyesore to all those who throng the embellished precincts of a Mausoleum rightly regarded as the second holiest Shrine in the Bahá'í world.
      The ownership of this plot will now enable us to locate the site, excavate the foundations, and erect the structure, of the International Bahá'í Archives, designed by the Hand of the Cause, Mason Remey, President of the International Bahá'í Council, which will serve as the permanent and befitting repository for the priceless and numerous relics associated with the Twin Founders of the Faith, with the Perfect Exemplar of its teachings and with its heroes, saints and martyrs, and the building of which constitutes one of the foremost objectives of the Ten-Year Plan. [CBN No 60 January 1955 p1]
  • - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; Covenant-breaking; Farah Sprague (Farahangiz Khanum); Haifa, Israel; International Archives Building (Haifa); Mount Carmel; Purchases and exchanges
    1957 25 Nov
    195-
    A proclamation was issued stating that Shoghi Effendi left no heir and made no appointment of another Guardian. [BW13:341–5; MC25–30]
  • See LOG310 for an explanation of the various meanings of the word 'Guardianship'.
  • See CB388–9 for a discussion of the continuation of the institution of the Guardianship.
  • * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Appointed arm; Covenant; Custodians; Guardianship; Haifa, Israel; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Shoghi Effendi, Passing of
    1956 (In the year)
    195-
    A Roman Catholic priest lodged a complaint against the Bahá'ís of Morocco with the Moroccan Security Service. Morocco; Persecution, Morocco
    1953 13 Dec
    195-
    A separate department for the Bahá'í Faith was established by the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs. [GBF137; PP 291; PP320] - Bahá'í World Centre; Israel; Recognition (legal)
    1958 14 Sep
    195-
    A week before the fifth Intercontinental conference is due to convene in Djakarta, Indonesia, the government withdrew the permit to hold the conference. [BW13:331]
  • For the story of why the permit was revoked see DM83–5.
  • The cancellation of the conference in Djakarta began a period of severe repression of the Faith in Indonesia which eventually led to the Faith being banned in 1962. [DM85, 88]
  • - Conferences, Intercontinental; - Persecution; - Persecution, Bans; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; Indonesia; Persecution, Indonesia; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963)
    1950 3 Jan
    195-
    A woman named Sughrá and her five children were brutally murdered. Members of the Spiritual Assembly of fhte Bahá'ís of Yazd were falsely accused of ordering the crime. The accusations were orchestrated by the judicial authorities from Yazd who were influenced by Mullá Khálisizádih. The trial of these innocent individuals occurred in Tehran with the help of fundamentalist religious authorities. As a result the guilty were never prosecuted and many innocent individuals were imprisoned and executed. [SCF123117] Abarqu, Yazd, Iran; Iran; Mulla Khalisizadih; Yazd, Iran
    1952 Jun
    195-
    Aaron ('Arthur') B. Wellesley Cole, a Sierra Leonean barrister, returned to Sierra Leone from England, the first Bahá'í to enter the country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Sierra Leone first Bahá’í resident Sierra Leon
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Ada Schott, Elizabeth Hopper, Sara Kenny and Ella Duffield arrived in the Madeira Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. BW13:453] - Europe; - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Madeira; Portugal
    1954 Ridván
    195-
    Adelaide Sharp, who had been in Iran since 1929, was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, the first woman elected to that body. [BFA2:361] Adelaide Sharp; Firsts, other; Iran; NSA; Women first woman elected NSA Iran
    1953 Dec
    195-
    Adíb Baghdádí arrived in Hadhramaut and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Hadhramaut, Arabian Peninsula; Yemen
    1958 (In the year)
    195-
    Adrienne and Dempsey Morgan went to Vietnam and over succeeding years helped establish administrative procedures among the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Vietnam. For lack of visa they left for Thailand in 1959, staying for two years before continuing to Phnom Penh. They returned to Saigon in 1961 before the end of the year. [Servants of the Glory p5-9; Bahaipedia] Adrienne Morgan; Dempsey Morgan; Vietnam
    1956 after 2 May
    195-
    After the annual reports were received from the 12 National Conventions Shoghi Effendi compiled a list of achievements made up to and including the two years since the start of the Ten Year Crusade. [MBW p76-86]

    There were now 3,700 localities opened to the Faith over the surface of the entire planet
    - 237 Sovereign States and Chief Dependencies where the Bahá'í Faith was present
    - 900 Local Spiritual Assemblies
    - All the countries listed as pioneering goals were now opened to the Faith except for those in the Soviet Union
    - Over 70 islands in the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Indian Oceans, were opened except for 6, bringing the total to 98 islands worldwide
    - 40 territories were opened to the Faith in the Pacific, with 170 Bahá'í localities
    - Bahá'í literature was now translated into 190 languages including 34 not included in the original plan
    - In over 60 territories, the number of those who have become Bahá'ís has surpassed the number originally anticipated
    - In a considerable proportion of these territories, Bahá'í membership has far exceeded the number required for the formation of local Assemblies, such as Gambia, for example, with 300 Bahá'ís
    - There were 3,000 Bahá'ís in Africa
    - 58 territories and islands were opened in Africa, with 400 Bahá'í localities
    - 140 African tribes were now represented in the Bahá'í community
    - 120 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Africa were functioning
    - Bahá'í literature was now published in 50 African languages
    - There were 43 National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds—National Bahá'í Centres
    - 168 incorporated Local and National Spiritual Assemblies
    - Land for 10 Temple Sites was acquired
    - The value of National Bahá'í endowments in 51 countries exceeded $100,000—$1.1 million in today’s currency—and now included the Maxwell Home in Montreal
    - The design for the House of Worship in Iran was approved
    - Plans for three additional Houses of Worship in Europe, Africa, and Australia had begun
    - In the Holy Land, the Covenant-breakers suffered defeat after defeat and Mírzá Majdi’d-Dín, the last survivor of the original Covenant-breakers from the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá finally died
    - In more positive news, 52 pillars of the International Bahá'í Archives had been raised and 450 tons of stone safely arrived in Haifa
    - The contract was signed with the same factory in Utrecht who provided the golden tiles of the Shrine of the Báb for the green tiles of the Archives building
    - The Monument Gardens were extended
    - Several properties were acquired in Bahjí and on Mount Carmel
    - The Temple Land on Mount Carmel was in the process of being purchased
    - In the United States the Bahá'ís were invited by the San Francisco Council of Churches to attend a prayer meeting for the United Nations
    - At this inter-religious gathering, the voice of the Bahá'í representative was the first to be raised, reciting a prayer revealed by Bahá'u'lláh
    - A prayer revealed by `Abdu'l-Bahá for America was presented by the elected national representatives of the United States Bahá'í Community to President Eisenhower, who acknowledged its receipt in warm terms and above his own signature.
    - A Bahá'í Publishing Trust was established in India
    - 30 new centers and 15 assemblies were formed in India, Pakistan and Burma
    - In Edirne, Bahá'ís were able to purchase sites blessed by the footsteps of Bahá'u'lláh
    - The very first Bahá'í Summer School in Central Africa was held in Kobuka, Uganda, with 100 attendees
    - The first All-France Teaching Conference was convened
    - The Bahá'ís of Tripoli, Libya and the Capital of Tanganyika both identified plots to serve as future Bahá'í cemeteries
    - In Iraq, the Bahá'ís purchased land for a Bahá'í Summer School in Iraq
    - The women of Egypt were granted the right to be elected to the Egyptian National Spiritual Assembly and participate as delegates at National Convention
    - In the Mentawai Islands, a plot of land was purchased supplementing the National Bahá'í Endowment of Indonesia
    - The northernmost outpost of the Faith in Alaska was pushed beyond the Arctic Circle
    - The Seychelles and the Sudan both initiated plans for the propagation of the Faith
    - The worldwide Bahá'í communities appealed with over 1,000 messages to the United Nations after the massacres of the Bahá'ís in Iran in 1955, subjected to the severest persecutions in decades.
    - The Bahá'ís also contacted the Sháh of Iran, Government, the Majlis and the Senate
    - Publicity was given on radio, in the world’s leading newspapers, protests were voiced by scholars, statesmen, government envoys and people of eminence such as Pandit Nehru, Eleanor Roosevelt, Professor Gilbert Murray and Professor A. Toynbee
    - A written memorandum listing the atrocities was submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations, who appointed a commission of United Nations officers, headed by the High Commissioner for Refugees, instructing its members to contact the Persian Foreign Minister and urge him to obtain from his government in Tihrán a formal assurance that the rights of the Bahá'í minority in that land would be protected. [Utterance Project part 20]

    * Texts in multiple languages; - Publishing Trusts; Covenant-breakers (individuals); Endowments; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); International Archives Building (Haifa); Local Spiritual Assemblies; Localities where Bahá'ís reside; Majdid-Din; National Spiritual Assembly, women; Statistics
    1955 18 Apr
    195-
    After the violent storm of persecutions against the Bahá'í's in Iran broke loose, the Bahá'í International Community delegates presented their case and Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, intervened with the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs and brought an immediate end to the physical persecution and lifted the danger of a massacre. [Bahá'í International Community History, 18 April 1955] * Persecution, Iran; Bahá'í International Community; Iran; United Nations
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    After their pilgrimage Harlan and Elizabeth Ober travelled to South Africa where they helped form the first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly in Pretoria as had previously been request of them by the Guardian. They returned in December as pioneers. [BW13869] - Pioneers; Elizabeth Kidder Ober; Haifa, Israel; Harlan Ober; Pretoria, South Africa first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly
    1957 27 Mar
    195-
    Agnes Alexander was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God on the passing of Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend. [GBF112; MBW174; PP255] - Hands of the Cause; Agnes Alexander; George Townshend; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Albert Nyarko Buapiah became a Bahá'í in Ghana, the first Ghanaian to become a Bahá'í in the country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Albert Nyarko Buapiah; Ghana first Ghanaian Bahá’í
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Alfred Amisi (Maragoli), Jacob Kisombe (Mtaita), Laurence Ouna (Mluhya), Labi Mathew (Zulu), and Zablon Bob (Luo) were among the first Kenyans to become Bahá'ís. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Kenya first Kenyans Bahá’ís
    1954 1 Mar
    195-
    Alvin J. Blum and his wife, Gertrude (née Gewertz), arrived in Honiara and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Solomon Islands. They were accompanied by their eight-year-old daughter Keithie. [BW13:456; BWNS291] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Solomon Islands
    1952 26 Mar
    195-
    Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum was appointed Hand of the Cause of God to replace her father. [GBF111; MBW132–3] Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum; Haifa, Israel; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
    1953 Jul - Aug
    195-
    Amín and Sheila Banání, a Persian-American couple, settled in Athens-Kifissia in August 1953 and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Greece. [BW452]
  • They were able to stay in Greece until 1958 when they were asked to leave by the government. [from an interview with Sheila Banani 10 November, 2022 on Thursday Night @7]
  • See Professor Amin Banani, 1926–2013: A Prominent Scholar of Iranian Studies by Ehsan Yarshater in Iranian Studies, 2014, Vol 47 No 2 p347-351 for an obituary of Amin Banani.
  • - In Memoriam; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Amin Banani; Athens, Greece; Greece; Sheila Banani
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Amír Húshmand Manúchihrí arrived in Liechtenstein and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Europe; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Liechtenstein
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Andrew and Mina Matthisen arrived in the Bahamas and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahamas; Caribbean
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Anjoman-e Hojjatieh ("Society of Allah's Proof Over Creation"), also called the Hojjatieh Society was founded specifically as an anti-Bahá'í organization by a charismatic Shiite Muslim cleric, Shaikh Mahmoud Halabi in the aftermath of the coup d'état of 1953. Between the early 1950s and the early 1970s a great number of the future elite of the Islamic revolution were trained by Hujjatieh. During the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Society was to play an important role in stirring animosity against Bahá'ís. However, in part because of differences in theology—among other things the Hojjatieh believe a truly Islamic state cannot be established until the return of the 12th Imam—the Society fell into disfavour and was banned by the regime in 1984. [Hojjatieh Society, Wiki] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Hojjatieh Society; Iran
    1954 1 Oct
    195-
    Anthony and Mamie Seto arrived in Hong Kong. - Asia; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Anthony Seto; Hong Kong; Mamie Seto
    1955 Aug
    195-
    Appeals were made by National Spiritual Assemblies around the world through the Bahá'í International Community to the UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld to ask the Iranian government to halt the attacks on the Bahá'ís. [BW13:789–91; BW16:329; MBW88–9; PP304, 311; CBN No 81 October 1956 p1]
  • The intervention of the Secretary-General of the UN, along with the efforts of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, brought an end to the physical persecution of the Bahá'ís, although their human rights are still denied. [BW13:790; BW16:329]
  • This marked the first time the Faith was able to defend itself with its newly born administrative agencies. An "Aid the Persecuted Fund" was established.
  • Historian Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi noted that the 1955 anti-Bahá'í campaign was both the apogee and the point of separation of the state-clergy co-operation. The Shah succumbing to international pressure to provide human rights, withdrew support. The result was that the period from the late fifties until 1977-1978 was a period of relative safety. [Towards a History of Iran's Bahá'í Community During the Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979 by Mina Yazdani.]
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Bahá'í International Community; Human rights; Iran; NSA; New York, USA; United Nations; United States (USA)
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Áqá Rahmán Kulayní-Mamaqání was martyred in Durúd, Iran. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Durúd, Iran; Iran
    1953 Jul
    195-
    Arthur and Ethel Crane arrived in Key West and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW16:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Key West, FL
    1956 21 Jul
    195-
    As a result of the intervention of the UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold in July of 1955, promises were given by the Iranian government officials that the persecutions would cease however, that was not the case. The Bahá'í International Community, as an accredited member of the Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations, sent delegates to Geneva to attend the meetings of the Economic and Social Council and to present the Bahá'í case to the sub-Committee on the Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. At Geneva the Bahá'í representatives met a number of delegates to the Economic and Social Council enlisting their sympathy in the case and requesting them to inform their Foreign Offices. Following a news conference held by the Bahá'í representatives a full story appeared in the New YorkTimes of July 21, 1956. [CBN No 81 October 1956 p1-2] * Persecution, Iran; Iran
    1957 Feb
    195-
    As authorized by the Guardian, Mrs. Morassa (Yazdi) Rawhani arrived as a pioneer to Rabat, Morocco. She actively participated in the formation of two Assemblies, that of Rabat and Sale, and although of advanced age, she was occupied in deepening the friends and teaching the children in these two localities.

    She was born in 1887 and named Akkawiya (the one who belongs to ‘Akká) by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. She was the granddaughter of Hadji Abderrehim Yazdi, one of the first bearers of the Sacred Standard. Born in the fortress of ‘Akká, she grew up in the Sacred Household under the shelter of the Greatest Holy Leaf.
    With her mother, she moved to Alexandria, Egypt where for a few months she was in charge of cleaning the private room of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was asked by Him several times to sew some of His clothes. She was entrusted to be the Early Prayer Reader of His private quarters.She was the first woman to become a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria, and dedicated her time to deepening the women in her locality.
    She passed away on October 6, 1971 and was buried in the Bahá’í Cemetery at Rabat, Morocco. Her funeral was attended by a large number of believers of Morocco, the majority native believers; also in attendance was a representative from the Íránian Embassy in Rabat. A message was sent from the Universal House of Justice to honour her life of service. [BN No 490 January 1972 p7]

    - Biography; Morocco the first woman to become a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria
    1952 (In the year)
    195-
    Aziz Yazdi from Persia joined Ted Cardell in Nairobi. In 1953 they were joined by Ursula Samandari from England. [A Brief Account of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nance Ororo-Robarts and Selam Ahderrom p2] - Pioneers; Aziz Yazdi; Kenya; Nairobi, Kenya; Ted Cardell; Ursula Samandari
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'í activity in Czechoslovakia was banned by the authorities, several members of the Prague community were arrested and Vuk Echtner was imprisoned for two years. [BW20p196] - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Other; Czech Republic; Persecution, Czechoslovakia; Prague, Czech Republic
    1955 9 May
    195-
    Bahá'í houses were attacked and looted at Shíráz, Iran. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Iran; Shíráz, Iran
    1951 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'í women in Egypt were extended the right of membership on local spiritual assemblies. [MBW12]
  • Shoghi Effendi called this 'a notable step in the progress of Bahá'í women of the Middle East'. [MBW12]
  • Egypt; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Women
    1955 4 Feb
    195-
    Bahá'í women in Hisár, Khurásán, Iran, were assaulted. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Hisar, Iran; Iran; Khurásán, Iran
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Bahá'í women in Iran were accorded full rights to participate in membership of both national and local Bahá'í assemblies. [MBW65]
  • This removed the 'last remaining obstacle to the enjoyment of complete equality of rights in the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Persian Bahá'í Community'. [MBW65]
  • Equality; Iran; Local Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assemblies; Women
    1952 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'ís and their homes were attacked in Najafábád, Iran, and several houses were set on fire. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Destruction; Iran; Najaf, Iranabad, Iran
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'ís and their houses were attacked in Bushrúyih and Fárán, Iran. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; Bushrúyih, Iran; Faran, Iran; Iran
    1954 8 Dec
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Ádharbáyján were dismissed from their employment in the Ministries of Health and Public Highways. [BW18p390] - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Azerbaijan; Persecution, Adharbayjan
    1951 Jun
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Fárán, Iran, were attacked and several houses burned. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Destruction; Faran, Iran; Iran
    1955 Sep-Oct
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Iran continued to be dismissed from their employment. Bahá'í students were expelled from Shíráz University. [BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution, Other; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Iran; Shíráz, Iran
    1951 12 Mar
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Taft, Iran, were attacked and one was killed. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Taft, Iran
    1954 1 - 3 Oct
    195-
    Bahá'ís of Germany and the European Hands of the Cause invited the Bahá'ís of Europe to the Haziratu'l-Quds in Frankfurt am Main to develop plans and to coordinate action in the work of the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade. [BN No 285 Nov 1954 p5] - Conferences; Conferences, Teaching; Frankfurt, Germany; Germany first Bahá'í European Conference to meet in Germany
    1955 30 May
    195-
    Bahá'ís were attacked and wounded and their houses attacked at Ábádih, Iran. [BW18p391] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Ábádih, Iran; Iran
    1955 8 May
    195-
    Bahá'ís were beaten at Dámghán, Khurásán, Iran. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Other; Damghan, Iran; Iran; Khurásán, Iran
    1959 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'í communities in the United States began the observation of World Peace Day to call attention to the need for world peace. [BBD175]
  • This was replaced in 1985 by the observance of the UN International Day of Peace, which occurs on the third Tuesday in September. [BBD175; Wikipedia]
  • International Day of Peace; Peace; United Nations; United States (USA); World Peace Day; World peace
    1951 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahá'ís in Árán, Káshán, Iran, were attacked, and one died. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Kashan, Iran
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Bahiyyih and Harry Ford were the first pioneers to establish themselves permanently in Johannesburg, Harry died within the first year of their arrival. His story is told in BW13p824.

    Bahiyyih developed a career in African arts and crafts, becoming a sought after lecturer as an authority on the subject at lunches and functions held by church groups and other organizations such as Rotarians, Lions and Women's Institutes. Bahiyyih was named Margaret at birth and was given the name Bahiyyih by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during a visit to Haifa at the age of twelve with her father, Harry Randall who was an Apostle of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [PHBFp15]

    - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Bahiyyih Ford; Harry Ford; Johannesburg, South Africa first pioneers to establish themselves permanently in Johannesburg
    1953 Ridván
    195-
    Bahjí was lit for the first time by 99 four-branched wrought iron lamp posts. [GBF32; PP89–90] Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahji, Israel; Firsts, other; Haifa, Israel; Light first time Bahjí lit
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Benedict Eballa arrived in Ashanti Protectorate (Now part of Ghana) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449; BWNS249] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ashanti Protectorate, Ghana; Ghana
    1953 16 Oct
    195-
    Benjamin Dunham Weeden and his wife Gladys (née Anderson) arrived in Antigua and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Leeward Islands. [BW13:453]
  • For the story of Ben Weeden's life see BW15:478–9.
  • For the story of Gladys Weeden's life see BW18:692–6.
  • - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Antigua and Barbuda; Leeward Islands
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Bernard H. Guhrke arrived on the Kodiak Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Kodiak Islands, AK
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Bertha Dobbins arrived in Port Vila on the island of Efate from Adelaide, Australia, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the New Hebrides Islands (Vanuatu). [BW13:454] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bertha Dobbins; Efate, Vanuatu; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Vanuatu
    1953 8 Aug
    195-
    Bishop and Ruth Brown arrived in Durban. [PHBF15]

    Ruth Randall Brown's story is told in BW15p463-465.

    - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Durban, South Africa; Ruth Randall Brown
    1950 Nov
    195-
    Brian Burland, the first Bermudian to become a Bahá'í, accepted the Faith in Canada. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Bermuda; Canada first Bermudian Bahá'í
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Brigitte Hasselblatt arrived in Shetland and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Scotland; Shetland Islands; United Kingdom
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Brigitte Lundblade (nee Hasselblatt), (b. 1923 - d. 17 May 2008) arrived in the Shetland Islands and was later honoured with being named as Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [Bahaipedia] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Scotland; Shetland Islands; United Kingdom
    1951 Dec
    195-
    Brothers-in-law Fred Bigabwa, a Mutoro, and Crispin Kajubi, a Muganda, became Bahá'ís in Uganda, the first to accept the Faith in that country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Uganda first Bahá'ís in Uganda
    1954 21 Apr
    195-
    Bruce Matthews arrived at Goose Bay and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Labrador. [BW13:453]

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

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Canada; Goose Bay, NL; Labrador, NL
    1954 11 Apr
    195-
    Bula Mott Stewart arrived in Swaziland and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Swaziland
    1950 (In the year)
    195-
    By this year the Bahá'í population of Black Africa was probably no more than 12. [BBRSM190–1] - Africa; Statistics
    1951 (In the year)
    195-
    By this year the first Canadian Inuit had become a Bahá'í. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - First believers by background; Canada; Inuit people first Canadian Inuit Bahá'í
    1954 21 Feb
    195-
    Charles ('Chuck') and Mary Dayton from the United States, settled in Charlotte Amalie, on St Thomas, and wre named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Leeward Islands. [BW13:453] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Leeward Islands; St. Thomas Island
    1954 15 Feb
    195-
    Charles Duncan (a musician and composer) and Harry Clark, both Americans, arrived in Brunei from Kota Kinabalu (Jesselton) in Sabah, where they had been waiting for several weeks, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451; PH63]
  • Later he pioneered to Thailand where he learned the language. See Servants of the Glory page 19
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Brunei; Charles Duncan; Harry Clark; Thailand
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Charles Dunning arrived in the Orkney Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] ul>
  • In probably it was October of 1954 Harold and Marzieh Gail depart from St Matthew's Quay in Aberdeen destined to pay a visit to Charles Dunning in Kirkwall. On the island the diminutive Charles Dunning is referred to as "a wee chappie". [OPOP55-59]
  • - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Orkney Islands, Scotland
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Charles M. Ioas arrived in the Balearic Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449]

    Photo.

    - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Balearic Islands, Spain
    1957 (In the year)
    195-
    Charles Winfield Small, a native of Barbados and the first to become a Bahá'í in the Bahamas, returned to Barbados, the first Bahá'í to settle in the country. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Barbados; Central America first Bahá’í in the Bahamas; first Bahá’í to settle in Barbados
    1958 23 Sep
    195-
    Chartered planes took the conference delegates to Singapore. Singapore
    1959 18 Aug
    195-
    Cheong Siu Choi (John Z. T. Chang), the Chinese headmaster of the Leng Nam Middle School and a highly respected leader in Macau, arrived with his family on Hainan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452]
  • PH75 says this was August 1958.
  • - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Hainan Island, China
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Claire Gung arrived in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. She spent 18 months in Salisbury (Harare) where she was a member of the first local spiritual assembly. [CG161] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Southern Rhodesia; Zimbabwe first spiritual assembly of Salisbury (Harare)
    1951 25 Jan or 4 Feb
    195-
    Claire Gung arrived in Tanganyika aboard the Warwick Castle and obtained employment as a matron in a boys' boarding school in Lushoto. She was the second Bahá'í pioneer to the country. [CG160; CBN No 18 Mar 1951 p10]
  • She later pioneered to Uganda and Southern Rhodesia during the Ten Year Crusade.
  • An additional group of early arrivals in East Africa settled in Tanganyika in 1951. They included Hassan and Isobel Sabri who came from Egypt, and Jalal Nakhjavání and his family from Iran. By 1954, a Local Spiritual Assembly had been elected in Dar es Salaam including three native believers. Among them was Denis Dudley-Smith Kutendele, the first to accept the Faith in Tanzania. [A Brief Account of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nance Ororo-Robarts and Selam Ahderrom p2]
      History of the Bahá'í Faith in Tanzania said that the first local spiritual assembly was elected in Dar es Salaam in 1952 and that it received civic registration later under Tanganyika's Trustee's Incorporation Ordinance.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Claire Gung; Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania; Denis Dudley-Smith; Hassan Sabri; Isobel Sabri; Jalal Nakhjavani; Kutendele, LSA, formation; Tanzania Denis Dudley-Smith Kutendele, the first to accept the Faith in Tanzania
    1959 Sep
    195-
    Clifford and Catherine Huxtable arrived in the Gulf Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh (albeit on 14 September 1969 see LNW101). [BW13:457] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Catherine Huxtable; Clifford Huxtable; Gulf Islands, BC first pioneers Gulf Islands
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Cora Oliver arrived in British Honduras (Belize) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Belize; Cora Oliver
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Corporal Richard Walters and his wife, Evelyn, and Richard and Mary L. Suhm arrived in Tangier from the United States and were all named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Morocco; Tangier, Morocco
    1953 20 Sep
    195-
    Countries (in which) Bahá'ís residenow aggregate over (one) hundred fifty. over seventy (have been) added (in the) course (of the) nine years separating (the) first (and) second Jubilees. [From a letter from Shoghi Effendi CBN No 46 November 1953 p1] - Bahá'í World Centre; Statistics
    1954 2 May
    195-
    Cynthia R. Olson of Wilmington, Delaware, settled in Barrigada, the largest village in Guam, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Mariana Islands. [BW13:454; BWNS303] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Barrigada, Guam; Guam; Mariana Islands; Oceania
    1952 12 Nov
    195-
    Dagmar Dole, pioneer to Alaska and Denmark, passed away in Glion, Switzerland.
  • Shoghi Effendi said she was the 'first to give her life for the Cause in the European project'. [BW12:702; ZK66–7]
  • For her obituary see BW12:701–2.
  • See also Bahá'í Chronicles and Find a Grave.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Alaska, USA; Dagmar Dole; Denmark; Glion, Switzerland; Switzerland; United States (USA) first to give life for Cause in the European project
    1955 Oct
    195-
    Daniel Haumont arrived in the Loyalty Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Loyalty Islands
    1954 Feb
    195-
    David Schreiber, an American, arrived in Antigua and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Leeward Islands. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Antigua and Barbuda; Leeward Islands
    1954 13 Apr
    195-
    David Tanyi, a tailor, arrived in French Togoland from British Cameroons and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Togoland (Togo); Togo
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Diá'i'lláh Asgharzádih arrived in the Channel Islands and was named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Channel Islands, UK; Diá’u’lláh Asgharzádih
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Dick Stanton arrived in Keewatin and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Keewatin, NT
    1959 7 May
    195-
    Donald Corbin, a pioneer to Grenada Island, made a trip to Dominica specifically to try to reach the Carib Indians. [BN No 343 September 1959 p10-11] - Pioneers; Dominica; Donald Corbin; Grenada; Indigenous people
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Doris Richardson arrived on Grand Manan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Grand Manan Island, NB
    1954 10 Jan
    195-
    Dorothy Baker, (b. Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, USA 21 December, 1898) Hand of the Cause of God, was killed in a plane crash in the Mediterranean Sea, near the island of Elba. BOAC Flight 781 departed Rome, Italy on a flight to London, England. While climbing through 27,000 feet, the plane experienced a sudden in-flight break-up and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near the Island of Elba. All 35 passengers and crew on board were killed. Following this accident, the Comet fleet was taken from service and subjected to numerous modifications in areas believed to have been the origin of the yet-unknown failure. The fleet was returned to service in late March 1954. [BW12:670; FAA Website]
  • In 1921 she married Frank Baker who had two motherless children. They had a girl and a boy of their own. [FMH73]
  • She was the granddaughter of Ellen "Mother" Beecher who took her to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in 1912. An early teacher (unnamed), after seeing the young girl, had a vision and asked Jináb-i-Fazil for an explanation. He replied that "someday she will become on of the great teachers of the Cause" and Mother Beecher began to pray that this would be fulfilled. [FMH73]
  • See FMH76-77 for the story of how Doris McKay was able to help Dorothy deal with her depression in 1929.
  • For the Guardian's cable see BW12:670, CF161.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • For her obituary see BW12:670–4.
  • See also Freeman, From Copper To Gold.
  • See TG229 for a short story about her and a comment from her on the Long Obligatory Prayer.
  • See Remembering Dorthy Baker at Bahá'í Blog.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • See article in the Canadian Bahá'í News No 46 February 1954 p1.
  • Find a grave.
  • - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Dorothy Baker; Elba, Italy; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Italy; Mediterranean Sea
    1955 Jan
    195-
    Dorothy Senne became the first Bahá'í in South Africa. [BWNS270] Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Dorothy Senne; South Africa First Bahá'í in South Africa.
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Dr John Fozdar arrived in Brunei in April 1954 and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450]

    See Remembering Dr John Fozdar.

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Brunei; John Fozdar
    1954 Jul
    195-
    Dr John George Mitchell, an English physician who became a Bahá'í in 1950, arrived in Malta and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Malta
    1950 25 May
    195-
    Dr Khodadad M. Fozdar, a medical officer of the State Railways in India, arrived in Singapore, the first pioneer to the country. [BW13:393]
  • His wife, Shirin Fozdar, joined him in September 1950.
  • Khodadad M. Fozdar; Shirin Fozdar; Singapore first pioneer to Singapore
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Dr Khodadad M. Fozdar, an Indian of Parsi background, arrived in the Andaman Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449]
  • For the story of his life see BW13:892–3.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India; India; Khodadad M. Fozdar
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Dr Malcolm King, an American pioneer in Jamaica, arrived in British Guiana (now Guyana) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; British Guiana; Malcolm King
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Dr Mihdí Samandarí arrived in Italian Somaliland and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452]
  • His wife Ursula (née Newman) arrived in 1954 and was also named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Somalia
    1950 3 Feb
    195-
    Dr Sulaymán Birgís was martyred in Káshán, Iran. [BW18:390]
  • For his obituary see BW12:684–5.
  • Two men affiliated with the Islamic Development Association of Kashan, asked Dr Sulayman Berjis to attend to a patient at their home. When the doctor arrived at the house, the two men, and others, stabbed the doctor 81 times, killing him. The murderers, who had the support of influential clerics, turned themselves in to the police. They said they had been motivated by their strong religious beliefs. A number of clerics wrote a letter to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, and asked him to free Berjis's murderers. The trials of the murderers took place from August 27 to September 13, 1950, in Tehran. As a result of the efforts of the clerics and a group of their supporters, conservative businessmen with links to the city's bazaar, the court pronounced the accused not guilty. They were all released. [Iran Wire; Towards a History of Iran's Baha'i Community During the Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979 by Mina Yazdani]
  • * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Kashan, Iran
    1954 12 Jul
    195-
    Dudley Moore Blakely, an artist, sculptor and designer, and his wife, Elsa ('Judy'), British citizens living in Maine, arrived on Tongatapu and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Tonga Islands. [BW13:456] They shared the honour with Dr. Stanley Bolton. [BWNS286] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tonga
    1952 (In the year)
    195-
    Dudley Smith Kutendere from Zomba in the south of Malawi became a Bahá'í in Dar-es-Salaam, the first African to become a Bahá'í in Tanganyika and the first in all of Central and East Africa.
  • Denis has the unique distinction of being the first native believer in sub-Sahara Africa to take the Faith to a new country when in 1952 he left Tanzania to return to his native Nyasaland settling in his home town of Zomba. [A Brief Account of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nance Ororo-Robarts and Selam Ahderrom p2]
  • Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania; Dudley Smith Kutendere; Malawi; Zomba, Malawi first African Bahá’í in Tanganyika, and Central and East Africa
    1952 c. Jun
    195-
    Dudley Smith Kutendere returned to his home in Nyasaland, becoming the first Bahá'í in the country.
  • He taught the Bahá'í Faith to his brother, who becames the first person to accept the Faith in Nyasaland.
  • Dudley Smith Kutendere; Malawi first Bahá’í resident in Nyasaland; first Bahá’í in Nyasalan
    1953 Jun
    195-
    Dunduzu Chisiza, a Nyasaland student who had recently become a Bahá'í in Uganda, arrived in Ruanda-Urundi (Burundi) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ruanda-Urundi
    1953 18 Sep
    195-
    Dwight and Carole Allen arrived in Athens and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Greece. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Athens, Greece; Greece
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Earle Render arrived in the Leeward Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Leeward Islands
    1953 15 Oct
    195-
    Eberhard Friedland arrived in French Guiana from the United States and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Guiana
    1953 14 Oct
    195-
    Edith M. Danielsen arrived on Aitutaki Island, 150 miles north of Rarotonga, before leaving for Avarua, Rarotonga, five days later and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Cook Islands. [BW13:450]
  • For the story of her life see BW19:625–6.
  • - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cook Islands
    1951 11 Oct
    195-
    Edmund (Ted) Cardell, arrived in Kenya, the first Bahá'í pioneer to the country in the Africa Campaign. [UD488]
  • Marguerite Preston, the wife of a tea grower, had been living in Kenya since August 1945. She was killed in an air crash in February 1952.
  • Kenya; Marguerite Preston; Ted Cardell first pioneer to Kenya in Africa Campaign
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Edmund ('Ted') Cardell arrived in Windhoek and wss named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for South West Africa (Namibia). [BW13:456]
  • He was later joined by his wife Alicia and the first German Bahá'ís to pioneer to Africa, Martin and Gerda Aiff and their children.
  • In 1955 Hilifa Andreas Nekundi, (also known as Tate Hilifa), was the first Namibian to become a Bahá'í. Mr. Nekundi later served on the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Windhoek, and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Namibia. [BWNS280]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Alicia Cardell; Gerda Aiff; Hilifa Andreas Nekundi; Martin Aiff; Namibia; Tate Hilifa; Ted Cardell; Windhoek, Namibia first German Bahá’ís pioneers to Africa; the first Namibian to become a Bahá'í.
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Edward Tabe, a youth from Cameroon, no older than fourteen, and Albert Buapiah from the Gold Coast arrived in British Togoland and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450; KoB78-79; BWNS249] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Albert Buapiah; British Togoland (Ghana); Edward Tabe; Ghana
    1953 Aug
    195-
    Edythe MacArthur arrived in the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455; BWIM143-145] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Queen Charlotte Island, BC
    1954 25 Dec
    195-
    Edythe MacArthur, already a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Queen Charlotte Islands, (now Haida Gwaii), arrived from Canada. She pioneered to Zululand and Cape Town where she worked as a nurse. [KoBp272-273]

    Her story was told in the above reference and in Memoriam 1992-1997 p143 and in CBN No. 175 August 1966 p4.

    - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Cape Town, South Africa; Edythe MacArthur; Queen Charlotte Island, BC; South Africa
    1954 May
    195-
    Elinore Putney arrived in the Aleutian Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Alaska, USA; Aleutian Islands, AK; Russia; United States (USA)
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Elise Schreiber (later Lynelle) arrived on St Thomas Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Elise Schreiber (Lynelle); Sao Tome and Principe
    1954 Jan
    195-
    Elizabeth Bevan (later Mrs Golmohammed) arrived in Rhodes and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Rhodes, Greece
    1954 4 May
    195-
    Elizabeth Stamp, an Irish-American widow from New York City, arrived in St Helena and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456; KoB392]

    See her short biography on the St. Helena website.

    - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; St. Helena
    1953 26 Aug
    195-
    Ella Bailey (b. 16 December, 1864, Houston, Harris County, Texas) passed away in Tripoli, Tarabulus, Libya at the age of 88 years. [BW12:687]
  • She had accompanied Mr and Mrs Robert Gulick in their settlement in Tripoli. [BN No 271 september 1953 p6]
  • She was elevated to the rank of martyr. [MBW170]
  • On her passing the Guardian cabled: "The irresistibly unfolding Crusade has been sanctified by the death of heroic, eighty-eight year old Ella Bailey, elevating her to the rank of the martyrs of the Faith, shedding further luster on the American Bahá'í Community and consecrating the soil of the fast-awakening African continent." [BW12p688]
  • For the story of her life see PSBW131–42.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • For her obituary see BW12:685–8.
  • For information on her burial site and a short biography see Find-a-grave.. Upon her passing she was interred at Hamming Cemetery, an Italian cemetery in Trioli where American servicemen and women were buried during the period there was a US military base nearby. After the base was closed and renovations were planned for the cemetery, there were no plans for the remains of the Americans so they were returned to the USA. Her remains were reinterred in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro,Delaware on the 21st of August, 2007.
  • See Youtube video I Adjure Them - The Ella Bailey Story as told by Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.
  • She had accompanied Mr and Mrs Robert Gulick in their settlement in Tripoli. [BN No 271 september 1953 p6]
  • See The Story of Ella Bailey.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Ella Bailey; Houston, TX; Libya; Names and titles; Texas, USA; Tripoli, Libya; United States (USA)
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Elly Becking arrived in Dutch New Guinea and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Dutch New Guinea; Indonesia
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Elsa Grossman arrived in the Frisian Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Elsa Grossmann; Frisian Islands
    1953 24 Oct
    195-
    Elsie Austin arrived in Tangier from the United States and Muhammad-'Alí Jalálí, an Iranian, also arrived. They were both named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Elsie Austin; Morocco; Muhammad-`Alí Jalálí; Tangier, Morocco
    1954 16 Jul
    195-
    Emeric and Rosemary Sala from Canada pioneered in Zululand and Port Elizabeth (currently Gqeberha) where they were instrumental in establishing the Faith. Rosemary established and international library at Cowan High School in New Brighton.

    Rosemary's story can be found in BW18p713.

    Emeric's at BW20p993.

    Their biography Tending the Garden was written by Ilona Sala Weinstein.

    - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Emeric Sala; Rosemary Sala; South Africa
    1953 25 Mar
    195-
    Enayat Sohaili, an Iranian, arrived in Mozambique from India, the first Bahá'í pioneer to the country. [BW13:290]
  • He was imprisoned and deported in June 1953. [BW13:290]
  • - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; - Pioneers; - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Enayat Sohaili; Mozambique; Persecution, Mozambique first Bahá’í pioneer Mozambique
    1957 3 Feb
    195-
    Enoch Olinga arrived in the Holy Land, the first black African Bahá'í to go on pilgrimage. [BW13p288] - First pilgrims; Enoch Olinga; Haifa, Israel; Pilgrims first black African Bahá’í on pilgrimage.
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Enoch Olinga arrived in Victoria (Limbé) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the British Cameroons. [BW13:449]
  • The first Cameroonian to become a Bahá'í in British Cameroon was a youth, Jacob Tabot Awo.
  • The first Cameroonian adult to become a Bahá'í was Enoch Ngompek of the Bassa tribe.
  • The first Cameroonian woman to become a Bahá'í was Esther Obeu, the wife of David Tanyi.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; British Cameroon; Cameroon; Enoch Olinga; Limbé, Camaroon; Nigeria first Cameroonian youth Bahá’í; first Cameroonian adult Bahá’í; first Cameroonian woman Bahá’í
    1952 Feb
    195-
    Enoch Olinga became a Bahá'í, the third Ugandan and the first of the Iteso tribe to accept the Faith.
  • See TG160 for the story of how he became a Bahá'í.
  • Enoch Olinga; Uganda first Bahá'í of Iteso tribe
    1952 Feb
    195-
    Eric Manton and his son Terry arrived in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), the first Bahá'ís to settle in the country. They settled in the Copperbelt region from where he was able to raise a number of native believers who took the Faith to other parts of Zambia. [A Brief Account of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nance Ororo-Robarts and Selam Ahderrom p2]
  • The first local convert was Christopher Mwitumwa in 1954. [Wikipedia]
  • - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Eric Manton; Northern Rhodesia; Terry Manton; Zambia first residents in Northern Rhodesia
    1953 Jul
    195-
    Eskil Ljungberg of Sweden, aged 67, arrived in the Faroe Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451]
  • He was the only Bahá'í on the islands for over a decade.
  • For the story of his life see BW19:658–61.
  • - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Faroe Islands, Denmark
    1953 13 Oct
    195-
    Esther Evans and Lillian Middlemast arrived in Castries, St Lucia, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Windward Islands. BW13:457] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Castries, St. Lucia; St. Lucia; Windward Islands
    1951 22 Oct
    195-
    Ethel Stephens, the first black American pioneer to Africa, arrived in Accra, the first Bahá'í pioneer to Ghana. [UD273] Ethel Stephens; Ghana first black American pioneer to Africa; first pioneer to Ghana
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Evelyn Baxter arrived in the Channel Islands and was named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Channel Islands, UK; Evelyn Baxter
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Faríburz Rúzbihyán (Feriborz Roozbehyan) arrived in The Gambia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Gambia, The
    1953 11 Oct
    195-
    Fawzí Zaynu'l-'Ábidín and his wife, Bahíyyih 'Alí Sa'di'd-Dín, (Fauzi and Bahia Zein) and their sons Kamál and Sharíf arrived in Tetuán from Egypt and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Spanish Morocco. [BW13:456; KoB35]
  • For the story of Fawzí Zaynu'l-'Ábidín's life see BW16:544–6.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahiyyih Ali Sadid-Din; Fawzi Zaynul-Abidin; Kamal Zaynul-Abidin; Morocco; Sharif Zaynul-Abidin; Tétouán, Morocco
    1956 11 - 12 Nov
    195-
    First All-Taiwan Teaching Conference was held in Tainan, Taiwan. The conference was attended by then Auxiliary Board Member Agnes Alexander from Japan. She would visit Taiwan two more times, in 1958 and 1962-as a Hand of the Cause. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p17] - First conferences; Agnes Alexander; Auxiliary board members; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; Tainan, Taiwan; Taiwan; Teaching first Teaching Conference held in Taiwan
    1957 28 - 30 Sep
    195-
    First Bahá'í Summer School held in Taiwan. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p21] First summer and winter schools; Summer schools; Taiwan first Bahá'í Summer School held in Taiwan
    1955 18–22 Jan
    195-
    Five Bahá'ís were arrested and beaten in Hisár, Khurásán, Iran; four of these are dragged around the town; Bahá'í houses were attacked, looted and set on fire. [BW18p390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Destruction; Hisar, Iran; Iran; Khurásán, Iran
    1954 6 Apr
    195-
    Five Continental Bahá'í Funds were inaugurated by Shoghi Effendi. [MBW59, 63] * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Funds; Funds, Continental
    1952 21 Feb
    195-
    For their part in the Africa Campaign, Egypt was asked to send pioneers to Libya and to Algeria. The first pioneer to Libya, Dr. Hussein Gollestaneh, arrived in Benghazi from Egypt.
  • By June 5, 1952 the first Libyan. Mr El Alamy, declared his faith in Bahá'u'lláh. Later in June a Bahá'í family, the Gorrah family, arrived to assist with the teaching work. [BN No 246 August 1951 p10; BN No 260 October 1952 p5]
  • Benghazi, Libya; El Alamy; Gorrah family; Hussein Gollestaneh; Libya first libyan to declare his Faith
    1956 Ridván
    195-
    Formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guam. Guam; Local Spiritual Assemblies first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Guam.
    1950 Sep - Oct
    195-
    Four Bahá'ís in Iran were arrested on trumped-up charges. The trial lasted until 1954, when the accused were given prison sentences. [BW18:390] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Court cases; Court cases; Iran
    1954 Sep
    195-
    Four people had become Bahá'ís in Zanzibar by this date. Statistics; Zanzibar, Tanzania
    1955 Sep
    195-
    Fowzieh Sobhi arrived in British Somaliland from Egypt, the first Bahá'í to reside in the country. British Somaliland; Fowzieh Sobhi first pioneer to British Somaliland
    1953 20 Oct
    195-
    Frances Heller arrived in Macau and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the island. [BW13:453; PH73]
  • She was the first Knight of Bahá'u'lláh to settle in Chinese territory.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Frances Heller; Macau first Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to settle in Chinese territory
    1955 4 Jun
    195-
    Frank Wyss of Australia arrived on Cocos and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia
    1953 2 Aug
    195-
    Fred Schechter, an American, arrived in Djibouti (the French Somaliland) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French Somaliland. [BW13:45; KoB50-58,98,107]
  • Mr Schechter went on to pioneer to several Latin American countries, he spent thirteen year on the Continental Board of Councillors for the Americas and served on the International Teaching Centre. He passed away on 27 January 2017 in California, U.S.A. He was 89 years old. [BWNS1149]
  • See In Memoriam Fred Schechter: Bahá'í House of Worship Memorial Program.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Counsellors; Djibouti, East Africa; Fred Schechter; French Somaliland; International Teaching Centre, Members of
    1953 13 Oct
    195-
    Frederick and Elizabeth Laws arrived in Basutoland (Lesotho) and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449, BWNS262 ]
  • For the story of the life of Elizabeth Laws see BW17:459–60.
  • Chadwick Mohapi and his wife became the first Bahá'ís in Basutoland (Lesotho). [TG166]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Basutoland first Bahá'ís in Basutoland (Lesotho)
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Frederick and Jean Allen and Irving and Grace Geary arrived on Cape Breton Island and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cape Breton Island, NS; Frederick Allen; Grace Geary; Irving Geary; Jean Allen
    1957 Oct
    195-
    From a message from the Guardian dated October 1957
  • Number of Bahá'í Centres from 2500 to 4500
  • Number of sovereign States and Dependencies: from 128 to 254
  • Number of National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies; from 12 to 26
  • Number of Local Spiritual Assemblies; more than 1,000
  • Number of islands open to the Faith: 70
  • The erection and completion of the International Bahá'í Archives Building at a cost of $250M
  • The enlargement of the scope of Bahá'í international endowments in the twin cities of 'Akka and Haifa at a present value of $5.5m
  • The Bahá'í holdings in Iran estimated at over 40m tumans
  • The acquisition of 48 National Haziratu'l-Quds at more than $500
  • The founding of Bahá'í national endowments in no less than 50 capitals and chief cities on all five continents, at a cost of at least $150,000
  • The initiation of the construction of the Mother Temples of both Africa and Australia
  • The purchase of 11 Temple sites for over $400,000
  • The incorporation of over 90 national and local Spiritual assemblies raising the global total to over 200
  • The translation of Bahá'í literature into 148 languages bringing the total to 237
  • - Bahá'í World Centre; Endowments; Statistics
    1950 Nov
    195-
    From Switzerland, Shoghi Effendi invited five Bahá'ís—Lotfullah Hakim, Jessie and Ethel Revell, Amelia Collins and Mason Remey—to Haifa. [PP251]
  • They, together with Ben and Gladys Weeden who were already there, were told that they would constitute the International Bahá'í Council. [PP251–2]
  • - Bahá'í World Centre; Amelia Collins; Ben Weeden; Charles Mason Remey; Ethel Revell; Gladys Anderson Weeden; Haifa, Israel; International Bahá'í Council (1951-1963); Jessie Revell; Lutfullah Hakim; Switzerland
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Gail and Gerald Curwin with their daughter Leeanna and Maurice and Ethel Holmes arrived in Nassau and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Bahamas Islands. [BW13:449] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahamas; Ethel Holmes; Gail Curwin; Gerald Curwin; Maurice Holmes; Nassau, Bahamas
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Gail Avery arrived in the Baranof Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Baranof Island, AK
    1954 9 Apr
    195-
    Gayle Woolson and her companion, Rebecca Kaufman, arrived in the Galapagos Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] [Heroes of God p59] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ecuador; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Geertrui Ankersmidt arrived in the Frisian Islands and was named Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Frisian Islands; Gertrud Ankersmidt; Netherlands
    1953 18 Oct
    195-
    George and Marguerite (Peggy) True arrived on Tenerif with their 12-year-old son Barry and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Canary Islands. [BW13:450; BW19p634] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Barry True; Canary Islands, Spain; George True; Margarite True; Peggy True; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Geraldine Graney arrived in the Hebrides and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Geraldine Graney; Hebrides
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Gertrude Eisenberg arrived in Las Palmas and is named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Canary Islands. [BW13:450] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Canary Islands, Spain; Las Palmas, Canary Islands
    1953 Jun
    195-
    Ghulám 'Alí Kurlawala arrived in Daman and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Daman, India
    1950 (In the year)
    195-
    Ghulam Reza Akhzari and his son Nur Allah were killed near Yazd and Bahram Rawhani was murdered in Taft. [Towards a History of Iran's Bahá'í Community During the Reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979 by Mina Yazdani.] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Taft, Iran; Yazd, Iran
    1953 27 Dec
    195-
    Gilbert and Daisy Robert, a French couple, become Bahá'ís in Madagascar, the first people to accept the Faith in the country. Daisy Robert; Gilbert Robert; Madagascar first Bahá'ís in Madagascar
    1953 29 Oct
    195-
    Gladys ('Glad') Irene Parke and Gretta Stevens Lamprill arrived in Papeete from Australia and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Society Islands, French Polynesia. [BW13:455]
  • For the story of Gladys Parke's life see BW15:457–8.
  • For the story of Gretta Lamprill's life see BW15:534–5. She was the inaugural secretary of the Hobart LSA, a secretary of the NSA of Australia and New Zealand and a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Society Islands. She was known as the "Mother of Tasmania".
  • - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; French Polynesia; Papeete, French Polynesia; Society Islands, French Polynesia
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Grace Bahovec arrived in the Baranof Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Baranof Island, AK
    1953 (In the year)
    195-
    Grant Mensah, a Ghanaian, became a Bahá'í in Ruanda-Urundi, the first person to accept the Faith in that country. Grant Mensah; Ruanda-Urundi first Bahá’í in Burundi
    1954 Mar
    195-
    Greta Jankko arrived in the Marquesas Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Greta Jankko; Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Habíb Isfahání arrived in Dakar and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French West Africa. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Dakar, Senegal; French West Africa; Habib Isfahani
    1954 29 May
    195-
    Haik (Haig) Kevorkian arrived in the Galápagos Islands and settled on the island of Santa Cruz. He was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. Haig had been present in Guayaquil as an itinerant pioneer-teacher in 1945 when the first local Assembly of that city was formed. He returned in 1954 to fill the virgin goal of the Galapagos. [BW13:452; Heroes of God: History of the Bahá'í Faith in Ecuador, 1940-1979 p24; 61]
  • On March 8, 1955 on the island of Santa Cruz, Señor Moyses Mosquera Zevallos enrolled as the first believer of the Galapagos. He was a school teacher from the mainland of Ecuador working on the island. Later he was dismissed from his job and was forced to leave theGalapagos due to accusations made against him of immoral acts with some of his students in spite of the fact that the teaching space was such that his wife was constantly with him. He had been the victim of an attack by the parish priest[ibid p76]
  • Haig returned to his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January 1956. His family came from Turkey but he was born in Syria on October 1, 1916 and came to Argentina as a youth with his family. He married his fiancée Miss Aurora de Eyto on October 19, 1957. His wife reported that he had colds continuously after returning from the islands, and on August 3, 1970 Haig passed away at .the age of 54. [ibid p75]
  • - Biography; - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Ecuador; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Haig Kevorkian
    1958 21 Sep
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas arrived in Indonesia and was plunged into negotiations regarding the holding of the conference.
  • He met with local Bahá'ís and anointed them with attar of roses as they passed to the room to view the portrait of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:331–2]
  • - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Indonesia; Leroy Ioas
    1957 25 Mar
    195-
    Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend passed away in Dublin, Ireland. (b.14 June, 1896) [BBD226, BW02-03p169]
  • For his obituary see BW13:841–846.
  • Shoghi Effendi is reported to have said that he was the best British Bahà'ì writer. [VAB vo1 p197]
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • His pamphlet entitled The Old Churches and the New World Faith was his statement upon severing his relationship with his colleagues in the Anglican Church. [CBN No 89 June 1957 p1]
  • A talk given by O.Z. (Zebby) Whitehead at an Irish Bahá'í Summer School.
  • See The Covenant: An Analysis, a study guide on the idea of a covenant, Messengers and their missions, the covenant between the Messenger and the faithful, and covenant-breaking. Includes an appendix, compilation on the covenant. It was published in Manchester in 1950.
  • See his essay The Way of the Master.
  • Christ and Bahá'u'lláh was published by George Ronald in 1957. Also published by George Ronald were: Àbdu'l-Bahá - The Master, Mission of Baha'u'llah - Essays, Poems and Meditations, of One Who was Appointed a Hand of the Cause, Promise of All Ages - A Classic Description of the Baha'i Faith, and The Heart of the Gospel - The Story of the Spiritual Evolution of Humanity Using Bible Texts.
  • See George Townshend - Biography from Church Canon to Hand of the Cause of God by David Hofman.
  • See Shoghi Effendi: The Range and Power of His Pen by 'Ai Nakhjavani p83 for his contribution in assisting Shogh Effendi with his translation work.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Dublin, Ireland; George Townshend; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Ireland
    1955 12 Nov
    195-
    Hand of the Cause of God Valíyu'lláh Varqá passed away in Stuttgart.
  • For his obituary see BW13:831–834.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Germany; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Stuttgart, Germany; Varqa, Valiyullah; Varqá (disambiguation)
    1951 20 Dec
    195-
    Hand of the Cause Roy C. Wilhelm, (b.17 September, 1875) passed away in Lovel, Maine. He was buried in the Wilhelm Family Cemetery in Stoneham, Maine. [BW12:662]
  • He became a Bahá'í when he accompanied his mother on her pilgrimage to 'Akká in 1907. He introduced Martha Root to the Faith in 1908. In 1909 he was elected to the Executive Board of the Bahá'í Temple Unity and served on the American National Spiritual Assembly. A Unity Feast was held at his home in West Englewood, NJ in June of 1912, an event commemorated every year. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p7]
  • He, along with Stanwood Cobb, and Genevieve Coy, wrote In His Presence: Visits to 'Abdu'l-Bahá These are said to be "three of the most important, and most touching, accounts of pilgrimages to the Holy Land in the time of `Abdu'l-Bahá. These are three classic works of Bahá'í history and literature. Roy Wilhelm's account is from his visit in 1907.
  • On his passing Shoghi Effendi designated him a Hand of the Cause of God. (23 December, 1951) [MoCxxii, BW12:662]
  • For his obituary see BW12:662–4.
  • Find a grave
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Lovel, ME; Maine, USA; Martha Root; Roy C. Wilhelm; United States (USA)
    1957 15 Nov
    195-
    Hands of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins and Leroy Ioas, accompanied by Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery, entered the apartment of Shoghi Effendi and sealed with tape and wax the safe where his important documents were kept as well as the drawers to his desk. [BW13:341]
  • The keys to the safe were placed in an envelope, which was sealed and signed by the five Hands and then placed in the safe of Leroy Ioas. BW13:341]
  • - Hands of the Cause; Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum; Amelia Collins; Charles Mason Remey; Haifa, Israel; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Leroy Ioas; Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Ugo Giachery
    1954 Jun
    195-
    Harold and Florence Fitzner arrived in Portuguese Timor and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; East Timor; Florence Fitzner; Harold Fitzner; Portuguese Timor
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Helen Robinson arrived on Baranof Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Baranof Island, AK
    1957 8 – 21 Jun
    195-
    Hokkaido Island was opened to the Faith by Rouhollah Mumtazi and Gekie Nakajima with the enrolment of new believers Kinkichi Shimatani and Yoshiro Sasaki of Sapporo, Japan. Hokkaido Island, Japan; Japan first Bahá'í on Hokkaido Island
    1952 8 Oct
    195-
    Holy Year, "The Great Jubilee", October 1952 to October 1953, was inaugurated. [MBW16-18; BW12:116; DG84; PP409–10; SBR170–1]
  • Centenary celebrations of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh's mission were initiated. [MBW16–18]
  • "Shoghi Effendi began the Holy Year to commemorate the centenary of Bahá'u'lláh's experience in the Siyáh Chál in October 1952 and closed the Holy Year in October 1953 (which corresponds to the centenary of the "Year Nine", the Islamic year 1269)". [Two Episodes from the Life of Bahá'u'lláh in Iran p21 by Moojan Momen]
  • Four international conferences were scheduled in Kampala, Wilmette (dedication of the Temple), Stockholm and New Delhi. [SETPE2p31-43]
  • For a brief description of the Kampala Conference see CG20-21.
  • Bahá'u'lláh, Birth of Revelation of; Centenaries; Great Jubilee (1952-1953); Holy Years; India; Kampala, Uganda; New Delhi, India; Síyáh-Chál (Black Pit, Tehran); Stockholm, Sweden; Sweden; Uganda; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL
    1954 3 Jan
    195-
    Howard and Joanne Menking arrived in the Cape Verde Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Islands; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cape Verde
    1954 Apr
    195-
    Howard Gilliland arrived in Labrador and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Labrador, NL
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Howard Snider arrived in Key West and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Key West, FL
    1953 Sep
    195-
    Hugh McKinley and his mother, Violet, arrived in Cyprus and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450]
  • Violet passed away in 1959 and she was laid to rest in Famagusta. Hugh remained in Cyprus until 1963. He died in Suffolk in 1999 was was buried in Lawshall, Suffolk. He had been born on the 18th of February, 1924.
  • See Ismael Velasco's paper entitled In Memoriam: Hugh McKinley.
  • See Life of Hugh McKinley, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh by Olive McKinley.
  • See Memoram: Hugh McKinley by Ismael Velasco.
  • - Biography; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Cyprus; Famagusta, Cyprus; Hugh McKinley; Ismael Velasco; Olive McKinley; Violet McKinley
    1954 Feb
    195-
    Husayn Halabi arrived in Hadhramaut and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Hadhramaut, Arabian Peninsula; Yemen
    1953 Nov
    195-
    Husayn Rawhání Ardikání and his wife, Nusrat, arrived in Tangier with their daughter, Shahlá, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Morocco (International Zone). [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Husayn Rawhani Ardikani; Morocco; Nusrat Ardikani; Sahla Ardikani; Tangier, Morocco
    1956 25 Feb
    195-
    Husayn Uskuli, (b. 1875) long-time pioneer to Shanghai from 'Ishqábád, passed away in Shanghai at the age of 82 and was buried in the Kiangwan Cemetery in Shanghai. [PH29, BW13p871-873]
  • He had heard about the Faith at the age of 18 from Mírzá Haydar-'Alí. After his marriage he moved to 'Ishqábád where he was very active in the community. After his move to Shanghai his home was the centre of activity and hospitality for all those passing through. He was the only foreign-born Bahá'í to remain in China after the regime change. The xenophobic attitude of the government precluded any meaningful contact with the local citizenry.
  • He was survived by four daughters and a son.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; China; Husayn Uskuli; Ishqabad (Ashgabat); Shanghai, China; Turkmenistan
    1952 27 Apr
    195-
    Hyde Dunn was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God posthumously in a cable sent to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand. [BW13:861; SBR169] - Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; John Henry Hyde Dunn
    1955 21 April
    195-
    In 1843, the Báb's only child, Ahmad, was still-born or died soon after birth. Khadíjih Bagum had a very difficult delivery and almost died as a result. The child was buried under a pine (or cypress) tree in the shrine of Bíbí-Dukhtarán (meaning Matron or Mistress of the Maidens).
  • In the opening days of 1955, the Shíráz municipality decided to construct a school on the site which would have destroyed the grave. When advised of the situation Shoghi Effendi responded: "Guardian approves transfer remains Primal Point's Son Gulistán Jávíd. Ensure befitting burial."
  • The Spiritual Assembly arranged for the remains to be exhumed, laid in a silk container, and placed in a cement coffin. For three months, the coffin was kept in the western part of the local Hadiratu'l-Quds. On the 21st of April 1955, which coincided with the day of the Báb's martyrdom reckoned by the lunar calendar, a special ceremony for the reinterment was held. It was the largest Bahá'í gathering in Shíráz in the history of the Bahá'í Faith. Multitudes of believers from all parts of the country participated in the historic event. In a prayerful atmosphere, the remains were reinterred in the Bahá'í cemetery of Shíráz. The Guardian heard the details and, on 24 April, cabled his joy: "SHIRAZ ASSEMBLY CARE KHADEM TEHERAN. OVERJOYED HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT CONGRATULATE VALIANT FRIENDS LOVING REMEMBRANCE SHRINES SUPPLICATING BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS. SHOGHI." [The Afnán Family: Some Biographical Notes by Ahang Rabbani 2007 Note <44>]
  • In the first báb of the fifth vahíd of the Persian Bayán, the Báb asks for a befitting structure to be built over the resting-place of Ahmad for the faithful to worship God. [Bahaipedia] .
  • * Báb, The (chronology); - Biography; - Births and deaths; Ahmad (son of the Báb); Báb, Family of; Cemeteries and graves; Cypress trees; Iran; Shíráz, Iran
    1950 (Early June)
    195-
    In 1950 Sutherland Maxwell suffered from a severe illness from which he never recovered. He returned to Montreal in early June, 1951. [From CBN undated Memorial Issue] Canada; Haifa, Israel; Montreal, QC; William Sutherland Maxwell
    1955 5 Aug
    195-
    In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles he requested that Bahá'ís withdraw from Churches, Synagogues, Freemasonry and other secret societies. A number of letters had been written before and were written after on the same subject. [LoGno.1387; LoGno.1388 (1956); LoGno.1389 (1956); LoGno.1390 (1956); LoGno.1391 (1951)]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá had previously permitted such membership in the Masons. [ABL127]
  • Freemasonry; Membership of other organizations; Secret Societies
    1951 25 Feb
    195-
    In a letter from the Guardian addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, concerning its Two Year Plan which immediately preceded the Ten Year Crusade, he made a reference to the election of the Universal House of Justice:

    On the success of this enterprise, unprecedented in its scope, unique in its character and immense in its spiritual potentialities, must depend the initiation, at a later period in the Formative Age of the Faith, of undertakings embracing within their range all National Assemblies functioning throughout the Bahá'í world—undertakings constituting in themselves a prelude to the launching of worldwide enterprises destined to be embarked upon, in future epochs of that same Age, by the Universal House of Justice, that will symbolize the unity and coordinate and unify the activities of these National Assemblies. [UD261; 9 March 1965]

    - Bahá'í World Centre; Universal House of Justice, Election of
    1952 1 Jun
    195-
    In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian by the Assistant Secretary, the National Spiritual Assembly was informed that Ahmad Sohrab had cabled the Israeli Minister of Religion to influence the court case brought by the Covenant-breakers, against the Guardian, and which resulted in complete vindication of the Guardian's control of the Bahá'í Shrines and properties. Sohrab's cable identified the Caravan with the Covenant-breakers and stated that the organization was not under the authority of Shoghi Effendi. In a letter dated May 25, 1941, the Guardian wrote through his Secretary that Sohrab "is no doubt the most subtle, resourceful and indefatigable enemy the Faith has had in America." Covenant-breaking; Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; New History Society; United States (USA)

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