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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1918, sorted by date, ascending

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1918 (In the year)
191-
The publication of the 2nd edition of Some Answered Questions by the Bahai Publishing Society in Chicago.

The book was in high demand and the Society had sold all its copies so they asked Laura Barney for permission for a second publishing. She took the opportunity to make some corrections and added "one lesson". She asked that the copyright of the book be put in her name in the United States. [LB174-175]

Some Answered Questions (book); Laura Clifford Barney; Chicago, IL
1918 (In the year)
191-
Shaykh Kázim-i-Samandar, Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh, passed away early in the year.
  • For the story of his life see [EB191-215].
  • Shaykh Kazim-i-Samandari; - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Iran; Biography
    1918 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of Excerpts from Mysterious Forces of Civilization, Written by an Eminent Bahai Philosopher in 1975: Excerpts from A Traveler's Narrative Written to Illustrate the Episode of the Bab. No publication information. [Collins3-43 p10]
  • A leather bound republication has been made of the 1918 edition. [Amazon.ca]
  • The text of this work as well as the translation done by Marzieh Gail and and the original Persian text have been laid out in one document by Bruce Barick and Nasrin Khademi. A pdf of this document has also been made available on Bahá'í-library.com.
  • Bruce Barick; Nasrin Khademi; Yuhanna Dawud (John David); Wilmette, IL; Illinois, USA
    1918 Jan
    191-
    The British Bahá'ís alerted the Foreign Office about the importance of ensuring `Abdu'l-Bahá's safety in Haifa. [BBR332-5; CH219; GPB305-6]
  • CH219 says this was in the Spring but letters to the Foreign Office were dated Jan 1918.
  • For the actions of Lady Blomfield see BBR333, CH219-20, AB425-26 and ER169.
  • For the role of Major Wellesley Tudor Pole see BBR332-3; CH222-5; and ER168-70.
  • British Foreign Office; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; Wellesley Tudor Pole; - Basic timeline, Expanded; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; Haifa, Israel; United Kingdom
    1918 8 Jan
    191-
    President Woodrow Wilson in a speech on war aims and peace terms to the United States Congress outlined his Fourteen Points. It was a statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I.
  • Wilson was influenced by the Bahá'í teachings in formulating his Fourteen Points, at least three Bahá'í volumes were known to be in the White House. The Hidden Words appears on a 1921 listing of Wilson's private library. Also, a 1916 compilation on peace given the President by a delegation of Washington Bahá'ís 'turned up in general reference at the Library of Congress marked "transfer from the White House"'. In addition, 'Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy (Boston, 1918) was said to have much influenced his thinking. [AY155]
  • Commenting on the Fourteen Points laid down by the President for the world community, the Master says that twelve of them derive from principles advocated by Bahá'u'lláh fifty years before, and that these Teachings had been spread worldwide through various publications, thus becoming known to leaders in Europe and America (Persian Tablets, vol. III, p. 312). [AY156-157]
  • US Office of the Historian.
  • See also President Wilson and the Bahá'í Connection by Paul Pearsall (1988).
  • Woodrow Wilson; Fourteen Points (Woodrow Wilson); History (general); * Principles; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; `Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy; Peace; World peace; World War I; War; United States, Presidents; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1918 Mar
    191-
    The British Military Administration of Palestine began. [BBR488]
  • Sir Ronald Storrs was detached from Jerusalem to organize the British Administration in Haifa. 'Abdu'l-Bahá offered him His staff and a gift of a little Bokkara rug from the Shrine of the Báb. He returned the visit to Sir Ronald at a later date in Jerusalem. [BW10 194-5; CH226]
  • United Kingdom, History (general); Ronald Storrs; Gifts; Carpets; Palestine
    1918 15 Mar
    191-
    Áqá Mírzá Javád, I`timádu't-Tujjár, was shot in Bandar Jaz and the houses of the Bahá'ís were looted, causing the death of Javád's 14-year-old nephew. [BW18:387] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Bandar-Jaz, Iran; Iran
    1918 (After the National Convention)
    191-
    The publication of the second edition of Compilation of the Holy Utterances of Bahaʼollah and Abdul Baha, Concerning the Most Great Peace, War and the Duty of the Bahais toward their Government, authorized the the Tenth Annual Convention of the Bahais of America held in Chicago.
  • The original.
  • The pdf.
  • Compilation of the Holy Utterances of Bahaollah and `Abdu'l-Bahá; Chicago, IL; United States (USA)
    1918 18 Sep
    191-
    Allenby began his last offensive against Haifa. [BBR335] General Allenby; Haifa, Israel
    1918 23 Sep
    191-
    "During the early years of World War I, though no longer imprisoned, 'Abdu'l-Bahá faced repeated threats against His life by authorities who were antagonistic towards Him and the Bahá'ís. The Commander of the Ottoman fourth army corps had even threatened to crucify 'Abdu'l-Bahá if the Turkish army were ever to be displaced out of Haifa." Lady Blomfield in London had learned of these threats and through her contacts in Cabinet, the British Army was instructed to protect Him and His family. [BWNS69, BWNS1202]

    The British army took the city in the 1st Battle of Haifa: The battle was won due to a courageous uphill assault by the Jodhpur Lancers of the Indian Army who took the German and Turkish artillery and machine gun emplacements on top of Mount Carmel by surprise. This attack is believed to have been one of the last cavalry charge in modern military history. Each year, on this date, the Indian Army commemorates this victory as Haifa Day. [AY104; BBR335; DH148, Scroll In 68095]

  • For details of the battle see BBR335-6.
  • For letters from the British authorities stating that `Abdu'l-Bahá is safe see BBR336-7.
  • For a photos see The Indian Weekender 5 October, 2018 as well as Wikipedia.
  • For videos see India Today, The Battle of Haifa Part 1, The Battle of Haifa Part II.
  • See the story as recounted by Col (Dr) Divakaran Padma Kumar Pillay.
  • See as well Battle of Haifa: The Last Great Cavalry Campaign in History by Ajeet Singh Choudhary. This article provides a comprehensive historical account of the Jodhpur Lancers and Battle of Haifa.
  • See PG85-86, on the 23rd of August, 1919 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in conversation with Major-General Watson, referring to the success of the British army in taking Haifa stated, "God hath wished it to be so, it was His Divine aid and assistance that made it possible." and "It was God that helped you from every standpoint."
  • World War I; War; History (general); Jodhpur Lancers; Indian Army; Armies; Germany; Turkey; Haifa Day; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Death threats to; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; Mount Carmel; Haifa, Israel; Israel
    1918 16 Oct
    191-
    During the years of the war the friends in the West had no communications with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and so were concerned for His safety and well-being. After the Battle of Haifa, on the 16th of October, the British Foreign Office in Palestine informed the British Consul-General in New York of His safety with a request that he publish the news. [BBR337 ]

    At a Feast held in the home of Mr and Mrs Leo Perron in Chicago it was decided to write a supplication to 'Abdu'l-Bahá asking Him to come to America. The idea was approved by the Spiritual Assembly and a letter was sent to all other assemblies to solicit signatures for the petition. In the early part of January all the signatures were received and sent to Akka along with the supplication. [SoW Vol 10 No 3 August 1, 1919 p168; p156]

    'Abdu'l-Bahá's response, translated by Shoghi Effendi, can be found on p154-155.

    * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; Chicago, IL; Petitions
    1918 11 Nov
    191-
    The end of the First World War or the Great War.

    It was a global conflict originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. It led to the mobilisation of more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, making it one of the largest wars in history. An estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a direct result of the war, and it also contributed to later genocides and the 1918 influenza pandemic, which caused between 50 and 100 million deaths worldwide. Military losses were aggravated by new technological and industrial developments and the tactical stalemate caused by gruelling trench warfare. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history and precipitated major political changes, including the Revolutions of 1917–1923, in many of the nations involved. Unresolved rivalries at the end of the conflict contributed to the start of World War II about twenty years later. [Wikipedia]

  • During the war Iran suffered horribly. It is estimated that during one year 120,000 people died of disease and starvation. The Bahá'í communities established relief centres to care for the believers and not a single Bahá'í starved or was even in need. [PG111]
  • World War I; War; History (general); Iran
    1918 23 Dec
    191-
    Ahmad Sohrab left the Holy Land to take the Tablets of the Divine Pan to America. [AB434] Tablets of the Divine Plan; Ahmad Sohrab; Haifa, Israel
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