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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1929, sorted by events, descending

date event tags firsts
1929 14 Feb
192-
Work began on the three additional chambers of the Shrine of the Báb after the rock had been excavated from behind the building during the previous year. [DH154]
  • Haji Mahmúd Qassabchí, the builder who had completed the repairs on the House of Bahá'u'llah in Baghdad was chosen to be in charge of the work. Shoghi Effendi later designed one of the doors to the Shrine as "Báb-i-Qassabchi" in his honour. The remaining two doors were named after Sutherland Maxwell, the architect of the superstructure, and ego Giachery who had served as liaison with the various Italian marble companies involved. The door to the octagon was named after Leroy Ioas who overlooked much of the work on the Shrine. [CEBF320]
  • Originally the centre room had been separated by wooden walls and doors. These were removed and replaced by archways. [SETPE1p164]
  • These rooms, when completed, are used as the International Bahá'í Archives. There was a second repository of the archives at this time near the resting place of the Greatest Holy Leaf. [GPB347]
  • Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); International Bahá'í Archives; Hájí Mahmud Qassabchi; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel
    1929 11 Feb
    192-
    William 'Harry' Randall, (b. 1863), passed away in Medford, MA. After his death, Shoghi Effendi named him one of the 19 Disciples of Abdu'l-Baha, a "Herald of the Covenant". [BBD71]
  • For his obituary written by Shoghi Effendi see BW3:213.
  • For his biography see William Henry Randall: Disciple of Abdu'l-Baha by his daughter Bahiyyih Randall-Winckler, with M. R. Garis.
  • William Harry Randall; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Medford, MA; Massachusetts, USA; Biography
    1929 4 May
    192-
    When the British Mandate in Palestine had been set up, an Order-in-Council had been enacted that allowed each of the recognized religious communities to be administered in all affairs of personal status according to their own religious laws and courts. The Bahá'í community had not, however, been accorded this "recognized" status and was thus compelled to submit to the Muslim Courts. In 1929 Shoghi Effendi asked Mountfort Mills to raise the matter with the authorities and the Bahá'í Community of Haifa formally petitioned the government that the Bahá'í laws on personal status be recognized in Palestine. [BBR459; PP284]
  • Recognition was granted later in the year. [BBR459; DH116; PP284]
  • Recognition (legal); Haifa, Israel; Palestine
    1929 (In the year)
    192-
    The publication of Abdul Baha in Egypt by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab for the New History Foundation. The publication was approved by the publishing committee of the National Spiritual Assembly. `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Ahmad Sohrab; East Lansing, MI
    1929 (In the year)
    192-
    The passing of Gulsurkh Bagum, given name Fátímíh-Sultán Bagum (b. 1855 Isfahan) [ARG171-186] Gulsurkh Bagum; Fatimih-Sultan Bagum; Tehran, Iran; Iran; Biography
    1929 Apr
    192-
    The New History Society was founded in New York by 'Abdu'l-Bahá's former secretary and interpreter Ahmad Sohrab along with Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler and his wife Julie as an indirect way of spreading the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. The New History Society gave rise in 1930 to the Caravan of East and West and the Chanler's New York house was henceforth called "Caravan House". This foundation was designed to prepare children and youth to join the New History Society. This group had a quarterly magazine called The Caravan. [BRRSM124, LDG2p134] iiiii Covenant-breaking; New History Society; Ahmad Sohrab; Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler; Julie Chanler; Caravan of East and West; Caravan House, New York; The Caravan; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1929 27 Feb
    192-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada forwarded a pamphlet published by Ruth White to Shoghi Effendi. His advice was to abstain from any provocation and to avoid hurting her feelings. [SETPET1p157, Bahá'í News p230, 298]
  • In 1929 she published The Bahai Religion and its Enemy, the Bahai Organization and in 1930, an appendix entitled Abdul Baha's Alleged Will is Fraudulent. An appendix to The Bahai Religion and its enemy the Bahai Organization.
  • Covenant-breaking; Ruth White
    1929 27 Nov
    192-
    The Mansion at Bahjí was evacuated by the Covenant-breakers after the occupation by Muhammad-Alí and his relatives for about 40 years. [DH116; GPB355–6; PP231-232, SETPE1p174]
  • During this time they showed no respect for the Holy Site; a blacksmith shop was set up near the entrance to the Shrine. [SE125]
  • For details of how the building was left see GBP356.
  • For pictures of its neglected state see DH116.
  • Covenant-breakers continued to occupy the adjacent house until June 1957. [PP233]
  • See SE126 for Shoghi Effendi's plan for a Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • See SoW Vol 20 no 4 July 1929 p122 for an account of the observations of Miss Isabel Rives who visited the area at this time.
  • House of Bahá'u'lláh (Bahji); Covenant-breaking; Bahji, Israel; Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahji, Israel
    1929 18 Mar
    192-
    The International Bahá'í Bureau was recognized by the League of Nations. [BIC History Timeline] International Bahá'í Bureau; League of Nations; Bahá'í International Community; New York City, NY
    1929 14 Sep
    192-
    The Green Acre Trustees were appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada. [GAP118] Trustees; Green Acre, Eliot, ME; Eliot, ME; Maine, USA; United States (USA)
    1929 4 Mar
    192-
    The Council of the League of Nations adopted the conclusion reached by the Mandates Commissions upholding the claim of the Bahá'í community to the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád. They directed the Mandatory Power (Great Britain) to make representations to the government of Iraq with a view of the immediate redress of the injustice suffered by the petitioners (NSA of Iraq). Also, the International Baha'i Bureau was asked by the League's Publishing Bureau for a short historical account that appeared in that same year's publication. [BW3:50-55; BIC History page 18 Mar 1928]
  • For Shoghi Effendi's response to this see BW3:206–9 and BA175-180.
  • See Minutes of the Sixteenth Session, 1929, by Permanent Mandates Commission
  • League of Nations; House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq; Geneva, Switzerland
    1929 6–26 Nov
    192-
    The case of the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád was taken before the sixteenth session of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations. [BW4:237]
  • The text of the petition was conceived and drafted by Monfort Mills. Shoghi Effendi paid tribute to his work in a letter dated March 20, 1929. [BA180]
  • The right of the Bahá'ís to the House was upheld and the government of Iraq was strongly pressed to find a solution but the House was not returned to the Bahá'ís. [BW4:237; GBF35; PP96–7]
  • See Minutes of the Sixteenth Session, 1929, by Permanent Mandates Commission
  • House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); League of Nations; Montfort Mills; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
    1929 9 Sep
    192-
    The British Bahá'ís opened their new centre, at Walmar House, Upper Regent Street, London. [PSBW46–7] Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); London, England; United Kingdom
    1929 May
    192-
    The American National Spiritual Assembly incorporated as a voluntary Trust. [BBRSM122; GPB335]
  • This enabled the National Spiritual Assembly to hold property, to receive bequests and to enter into contracts. [BBRSM122; GPB335–6]
  • National Spiritual Assembly; Voluntary trusts; United States (USA)
    1929 Sep
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi sailed from England to Cape Town and proceeded overland to Cairo. [PP180–1, SETPE1p163]
  • He travelled through East Africa passing through Rhodesia where he visited the grave of Cecil Rhodes and further north in Rhodesia to see the Victoria Falls.
  • He rode as a passenger with an English hunter through part of East Africa and travelled on a train for some five hundred miles.
  • He crossed the Nile River through a papyrus swamp on a ferry.
  • He was back in Haifa by October. [SETPE1p163]
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Travels of; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; United Kingdom; Cape Town, South Africa; South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt; - Africa
    1929 25 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi made the sacrifice of a priceless carpet to be sold to contribute to the Mashriqu'lAdhkar Fund. Mr. George Spendlove, a believer exceptionally qualified by expert knowledge and experience was asked to undertake the responsible task of arranging for the sale of this rug. It was valued at some $20,000 "Am sacrificing the most valuable ornament of Baha'u'llah's Shrine in order to consecrate and reinforce the collective endeavors of the American believers speedily to consummate Plan for Unified Action. Appeal for unprecedented self-sacrifice."--Cablegram, April 25, 1929.

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

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

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

    Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Funds; Chicago, IL
    1929 summer
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi made plans to hold an international conference to consider, among other things, how to establish national spiritual assemblies as a prelude to the Universal House of Justice. [PP250]
  • He cancelled the conference when he perceived that the Bahá'ís would find it a source of confusion and misunderstanding. [BBRSM126; PP250]
  • Universal House of Justice; Spiritual Assemblies; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1929 (In the year)
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi completed the construction of the building at 10 Haparsim Street, which was designed as a hostel for western pilgrims, and adopted the custom of taking the evening meal with them in the dining room on the lower level. He usually met with the eastern pilgrims in the pilgrim house next to the Shrine of the Báb. [Bahá'í Pilgrimage] Pilgrimage; Pilgrim Houses; Pilgrim House, Western (Haifa); Haifa, Israel
    1929 Apr
    192-
    Shoghi Effendi announced that the Council of the League of Nations had pronounced in favour of the Bahá'í petition regarding the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad. Unfortunately, King Faisal, a Sunni, relented under the pressure of the Shi'iah element and the property was never returned. [Bahá'í News Letter, no. 31 (April 1929), p.6, SETPE1p169]
  • See as well Minutes of the Sixteenth Session, 1929, by Permanent Mandates Commission
  • House of Bahá'u'lláh (Baghdad); League of Nations; King Faisal; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq; Geneva, Switzerland; Switzerland
    1929 End of Aug
    192-
    Martha Root arrived in Albania, the first Bahá'í to set foot in the country. [MR317]
  • She obtained an audience with King Zog I and was warmly received by him. [MR319]
  • For Martha Root's own account of her stay in Albania see MR319–20.
  • Martha Root; King Zog I; Albania first Bahá’í to visit Albania
    1930 (before)
    192-
    It was reported that there were two Bahá'ís resident in Italy in this year.
    • Mrs. Edith Burr of Florence, made her home a centre for many years.
    • Signora Maria Forni, who lived at Crevenna near Lake Como. was an ardent exponent from the time of her acceptance of the Teachings in 1899, and her social work among children was testimony of her sincere faith. [BN #43 Aug1930 p.8]
    Edith Burr; Signora Maria Forni; Crevenna, Italy; Florence, Italy; Italy first Baha'is in Italy
    1929 16 Mar
    192-
    In December of 1925 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of United States and Canada adopted the "Unified Plan of Action" and among the resolutions was to raise some $400,000 over the following three years to construct the first unit of the superstructure of the Temple. By the end of 1926 only $51,000 had been collected and the following year was just as disappointing. At the National Convention in 1928 Fred Schopflocher's donation of $25,000 inspired contributions and the Fund rose to about $87,000 by March 1929. On this day Fred and Lorol Schopflocher contributed a further $100,000. [LoF388-389, SETPE1p162-163]
  • See May 1937 for another contribution of $100,000 from the Schopflochers.
  • Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Fred Schopflocher; Lorol Schopflocher; Unified Plan of Action, US and CA; Funds; Montreal, QC; Canada; Wilmette, IL; United States (USA)
    1929 12 Aug
    192-
    Green Acre became a fully fledged Bahá'í summer school when the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada obtained legal title to the property. [BBD91; GAP118; GPB340; SBBH126, Green Acre] Summer schools; Green Acre, Eliot, ME; Eliot, ME; Maine, USA; United States (USA)
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