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[ 22 Articles ] |
• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 21 / 23 April A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The First International Convention is convened in Haifa. [MC424]
- For programme see MC424–5.
- For details of the Convention and pictures see BW14:425–30.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 21 April A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Universal House of Justice is elected for the first time. [BW14:427; MC424]
- The election is held at 9:30 in the morning at the home of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, 7 Haparsim Street, Haifa. [BW14:427; MC425]
- Ballots are received from all 56 national spiritual assemblies. [BW14:427]
- 288 members of 51 national spiritual assemblies are present at the election. [BW14:427]
- For a list of the electors see MC406–13.
- For details of the election see BW14:425–9 and MC20–1.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 22 April A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The results of the election of the
Universal House of Justice are announced at the close of the morning
session of the International Convention: Charles Wolcott, ‘Alí
Nakhjavání, H. Borrah Kavelin, Ian Semple, Lutfu'lláh Hakím, David
Hofman, Hugh Chance, Amoz Gibson and Hushmand Fatheazam. [BBD231–3;
BBRSM131; BW14:425 MC425; SS50; VVXI-XII]
- For a picture of the Hands of the Cause of God with the Universal House of Justice see ZK123.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 23 April A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
Two Hands of the Cause and two
members of the Universal House of Justice attend, on behalf of the House
of Justice, the State funeral of Izhak Ben Zvi, second President of
Israel. [BW14:92–3]
- This is the first official act of the Universal House of Justice. [BW14:92–3]
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 28 April / 2 May A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The first Bahá'í World Congress,
the ‘Most Great Jubilee', is held in London to celebrate the centenary
of the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW14:57]
- For a detailed account and many pictures see BW14:57–80.
- For the programme of speakers see BW14:60–1.
- Some 6,000 Bahá'ís attend.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 30 April A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The members of the Universal House
of Justice are presented to the World Congress and the first statement
of the House of Justice is read by David Hofman. [BW14:68]
- For the text of the statement see BW14:431–2 and WG1–3.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 7 May A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Universal House of Justice issues its first message to national conventions. [WG4–8]
- It pays tribute to the Hands of the Cause. [WG5]
- It
announces that the body has no officers and that its communications
will be signed ‘Universal House of Justice' over an embossed seal. [WG6]
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 9 May A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Hands of the Cause of God pass a
resolution regarding the principles that will apply between the body of
the Hands and the Hands Residing in the Holy Land and the activities of
the Hands in the Holy Land. [MC426]
- Five Hands of the Cause are assigned to the Holy Land.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 10 May A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The passing of F. St. George
Spendlove (b. 23 April, 1897 in Montreal) in Toronto. He was part of the
community of early believers in Montreal where he learned about the
Faith after returning from the war in Europe. The Face of Early Canada, published in 1958, is illustrated with pieces from this collection. A second book, Collectors' Luck, followed in 1960.
Bahá'í World, Vol. 13, 1954–1963, "In Memoriam," pp. 895–9. |
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 19 May A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Hands of the Cause cable the
annual conventions with the names of the five Hands chosen to reside in
the Holy Land: Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih K̲h̲ánum, Leroy Ioas, ‘Alí-Akbar
Furútan, Paul Haney and Abu'l-Qásim Faizí. [MC427] |
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 5 June onwards A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
Throughout Iran, advantage is taken
of the general anti-government disorder to launch attacks on Bahá'ís in
several localities under the cover of these disturbances. [BW18:391]
- The Bahá'í cemetery in Ṭihrán is attacked, its buildings burnt and graves desecrated. [BW18:391]
- Bahá'í houses are attacked and burned at Árán and the local Bahá'í centre attacked. [BW18:391]
- The Bahá'í centre at Isfahán is attacked. [BW18:391]
- Several Bahá'í homes and businesses are attacked in Shíráz. BW18:391]
- An attack on the House of the Báb in Shíráz is attempted. BW18:391]
- Bahá'ís are dismissed from government employment. [BW18:391]
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 7 June A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Custodians publish a
Declaration ‘releasing all their functions, rights and powers conferred
upon them by the Declaration of the Hands, November 25, 1957, to the
Universal House of Justice'. [MC433]
- This is in accordance with
the terms of the original document which provided for the Hands to
exercise these functions until the election of the Universal House of
Justice. [MC431]
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 16 June A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Universal House of Justice
announces that it will for the present use the Western Pilgrim House at
10 Haparsim Street, Haifa, as its seat and that both the Eastern and
Western Pilgrim will be housed in the Haifa Pilgrim House. [WG9] |
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 31 July A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Universal House of Justice
announces that it will for the present use the Western Pilgrim House at
10 Haparsim Street, Haifa, as its seat and that both the Eastern and
Western Pilgrim will be housed in the Haifa Pilgrim House. [WG9] |
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• Jamál 6 Asmá' 120 B.E.
• Yawm al-Aḥad 4 Rabī' ath-thānī
A.H. 1383
• Sunday 25 August A.D. 1963
• Yom Rishon 5 Elul A.M. 5723
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The Universal House of Justice
announces the demolition by the Soviet authorities of the House of
Worship in ‘Ishqábád (now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan) owing to earthquake
damage. [BBD122; BW14:479–81]
- For a picture of the damaged Temple see BW14:481.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• October A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
After the International Conference
in London, those members of the newly elected Universal House of Justice
who were not already resident in Haifa returned to their homes to make
plans to relocate. This was finally completed by October.
- The Universal House of Justice announces the launching at Ridván 1964 of the Nine Year Plan. [WG14]
- As a preliminary step 19 new national spiritual assemblies are to formed at Ridván 1964. [WG15–17]
- The next election of the Universal House of Justice will be in spring 1968. [WG17]
- The Faith has now entered the third epoch of the formative age. [WG17]
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 6 October A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Universal House of Justice
cables that it finds that ‘there is no way to appoint or to legislate to
make it possible to appoint a second Guardian to succeed Shoghi
Effendi'. [WG11]
- See an interview with Mr Ian Semple in which he provides background to the decision and the process by which it was made.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 1 November A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The first person on Saipan to become a Bahá'í, Patience Robinson, enrols. |
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 23 November A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
At the request of the Universal
House of Justice, Bahá'ís around the world pray at the Feast of Qawl for
favourable action to be taken in the case of the Bahá'ís under threat
of death and imprisoned in Morocco. [BW14:98]
- Shortly after the
Feast the Moroccan Supreme Court heard the appeals, reversed the
decision of the trial court and ordered the release of the prisoners.
[BW14:98]
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 13 December A.D. 1963
• A.M. |
The Bahá'í prisoners in Morocco are released on order of the Supreme Court. [BW14:98; MC19]
- For a picture of the release of the Moroccan Bahá'í prisoners see BW14:97.
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• A.D. 1964
• A.M. |
Four new believers in Cambodia are
arrested and imprisoned as the Bahá'í Faith is not formally recognized
and the Bahá'ís do not have permission to teach it. |
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• 120 B.E.
• A.H.
• 3 February A.D. 1964
• A.M. |
Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá
Rúhíyyih K̲h̲ánum and her companion Violette Nakhjavání leave Haifa at the
start of their 55,000 mile, 9-month journey through India, Ceylon,
Nepal and Sikkim. [AV114; VV11] |
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