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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1953-10, descending sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
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] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Gail Curwin; Ethel Holmes; Gerald Curwin; Maurice Holmes; Nassau, Bahamas; Bahamas
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] Bertha Dobbins; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Efate, Vanuatu; Vanuatu
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] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Amin Battah; Western Sahara; - Africa
1953 Oct
195-
Max Kanyerezi, a Ugandan, was brought to Brazzaville by Violette and 'Alí Nakhjavání and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for French Equatorial Africa. [BW13:451] Violette Nakhjavani; `Alí Nakhjavání; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Max Kanyerezi; Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo; French Equatorial Africa
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 Oct
195-
Rolf Haug settled in Crete and iwa named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for that island. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Rolf Haug; Crete, Greece
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; Malcolm King; British Guiana
1953 Oct
195-
Shirley Warde arrived in British Honduras (Belize) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Shirley Warde; Belize
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] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Frederick Allen; Jean Allen; Irving Geary; Grace Geary; Cape Breton Island, NS
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; Gertrud Ankersmidt; Frisian Islands; Netherlands
1953 Oct
195-
Zunilda de Palacios arrived on Chiloé Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:450] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Zunilda de Palacios; Chiloé Island, Chile; Chile; Latin America
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".
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Papeete, French Polynesia; Society Islands, French Polynesia; French Polynesia
    1953 29 Oct
    195-
    Opal Jensen arrived on Réunion Island from the United States and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]
  • She was later declared a Covenant-breaker.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Covenant-breaking; Reunion Island; France
    1953 24 Oct
    195-
    Luella McKay, John and Erleta Fleming, and Alyce Janssen arrived in Spanish Morocco and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Luella McKay; John Fleming; Erleta Fleming; Alyce Janssen; Morocco
    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] Elsie Austin; Muhammad-`Alí Jalálí; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Tangier, Morocco; Morocco
    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
    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] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; George True; Peggy True; Margarite True; Barry True; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Canary Islands, Spain
    1953 17 Oct
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Bertha Dobbins in Vanuatu. [BWNS256] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Vanuatu; Oceania
    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.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Antigua; 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 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.
  • Enoch Olinga; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Limbé, Camaroon; British Cameroon; Cameroon; Nigeria first Cameroonian youth Bahá’í; first Cameroonian adult Bahá’í; first Cameroonian woman Bahá’í
    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.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Cook Islands
    1953 14 Oct
    195-
    Robert and Elinor Wolff arrived in Dutch Guiana and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Dutch Guiana (Suriname); Suriname
    1953 14 Oct
    195-
    Shoghi Effendi announced the settling of 13 further Knights of Bahá'u'lláh, with 178 territories now open to the Faith. [MBW173] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Statistics; Growth; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); - Worldwide
    1953 13 Oct
    195-
    Una Townshend arrived in Malta and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454, BWNS234] Una Townshend; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Malta
    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 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] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Castries, St. Lucia; St. Lucia; Windward Islands
    1953 11 Oct
    195-
    Fawzí Zaynu'l-'Ábidín and his wife, Bahíyyih 'Alí Sa'di'd-Dín, and their sons Kamál and Sharíf arrived in Tetuán from Egypt and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for Spanish Morocco. [BW13:456]
  • For the story of Fawzí Zaynu'l-'Ábidín's life see BW16:544–6.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Fawzi Zaynul-Abidin; Bahiyyih Ali Sadid-Din; Kamal Zaynul-Abidin; Sharif Zaynul-Abidin; Tétouán, Morocco; Morocco
    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 Oct
    195-
    Salvador and Adela Tormo arrived on the Juan Fernandez Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile; Chile
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Earle Render arrived in the Leeward Islands and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:453] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Leeward Islands
    1953 7 – 15 Oct
    195-
    The Asian Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in New Delhi. [BW12:178; CBN No 50 Mar 1953 p6-7]
  • For Shoghi Effendi's message to the conference see BW12:178–81.
  • At the request of our beloved Guardian a memorial service was held for our dearly loved Hand of the Cause, Mr. Sutherland Maxwell. Loving tributes were paid to his memory by Mr. Remey and Mr. Giachery. [CBN No 50 Mar 1953 p6]
  • For a report of the conference see BW12:181–8.
  • This was the first international Bahá'í gathering ever to be held in the East. [BW12:181; SBR171]
  • It was attended by 489 Bahá'ís representing 31 countries. [BW 12:181]
  • The design for the International Bahá'í Archives was revealed to the Bahá'ís of the world for the first time at this conference. [DH168]
  • Following the New Delhi conference the Hands of the Cause and other visiting Bahá'ís travelled the length and the breadth of the country speaking in universities, teachers' training colleges, agricultural schools, theatres, hotels, Y.M.C.A.'s, at service clubs, and theosophical societies. Prominent citizens representative of the Hindu, Moslem and Christian faiths were chairmen at many of these meetings. There were numerous press conferences and wide-spread newspaper publicity. The Hands of the Cause were able to present Bahá'í books to world famous Indian scholars, to the family of the Maharaja of Indore and to representatives of the press. Perhaps never since Abdu'l·Bahá visited America has the Faith been presented in such a variety of places in so short a time. Dorothy Baker was one of the Hands who participated in this post-conference proclamation. [CBN No54 Jul 1954 p5]
  • Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963); Teaching; - First conferences; New Delhi, India; India; - Asia; International Archives Building (Haifa) first international Bahá’í gathering in the East
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Richard and Lois Nolen and children Linda Jean, Cynthia and John arrived in the Azores and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13p449; Bahaipedia] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Richard Nolen; Lois Nolen; Azores
    1953 7 Oct
    195-
    William Danjon Dieudonné arrived in Andorra and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW12:449]
  • He continued to live in the country.
  • By 1979 Andorra had a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Andorra-la-Vella and three localities. [BN No 581 August 1979 p11]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Andorra; - Europe
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Marie Ciocca Holmlund arrived on Sardinia and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Sardinia, Italy
    1953 4 Oct
    195-
    Una Townshend arrived at her pioneer post. It was planed that her father, Hand of the Cause George Townshend, accompany her to Malta where the warm climate might improve his health. He was not well enough to go so Una went alone. Unfortunately his illness advanced and Shoghi Effendi asked her to return home to care for him so she left at the end of 1954. Una and her brother Brian helped him to complete Christ and Bahá'u'lláh by writing down his dictations as he was dying from Parkinson's. Shoghi Effendi called the book Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend's 'crowning achievement'. [KoB359-360] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Malta
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Geraldine Graney arrived in the Hebrides and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Geraldine Graney; Hebrides
    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]
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Orkney Islands, Scotland
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Lionel Peraji arrived in Mahé and is named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Mahé, India
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Emma Rice, followed one week later by Knights Stanley and Florence Bagley and their three teenage children, Susan, Gerrold and Carol in Palermo, Sicily. [BWNS254] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Sicily, Italy; Italy
    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)
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb was completed. [BBD210; CB324–5; PP235; ZK85–6]
  • Marble for the Shrine of the Báb came from Chiampo, Italy as did marble for the Archives Building, the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Terraces Project, the Monument Gardens and the Houses of Worship in India and Samoa. It was cut and chiseled by a firm called Margraf, formerly known as Industria Marmi Vincentini. [BWNS1223]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá described the Shrine of the Báb as the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. [ABF18]
  • In a letter from the International Bahá'í Council dated the 2nd of May 1955, they reported on the great interest that has been taken in the Shrine of the Báb since the completion. [CBN No65 Jun 1955 p1; BN 292 Jun 1955 p4]
  • Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Marble; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; Margraf; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel; Chiampo, Italy; Italy
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Muhammad Mustafá Sulaymán, an Egyptian, arrived in Spanish Sahara (Western Sahara) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. BW13:456]
  • For the story of his life see BW18:768–71.
  • - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Muhammad Mustafa Sulayman; Spanish Sahara
    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; Ted Cardell; Alicia Cardell; Martin Aiff; Gerda Aiff; Hilifa Andreas Nekundi; Tate Hilifa; Windhoek, Namibia; Namibia first German Bahá’ís pioneers to Africa; the first Namibian to become a Bahá'í.
    1953 Oct
    195-
    The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Edith Danielson in the Cook Islands. [BWNS265] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Cook Islands; Pacific
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Katharine Meyer arrived on Margarita Island and was named Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Katharine Meyer; Margarita Island, Venezuela
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Ursula von Brunn arrived in the Frisian Islands and was named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:452] Ursula von Brunn; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Frisian Islands
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Helen Robinson arrived on Baranof Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:449] - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; Baranof Island, AK
    1953 Oct
    195-
    Mrs (Alexandra) Ola Pawlowska arrived in St Pierre and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Miquelon Island and St Pierre Island. [BW13:454] Ola Pawlowska; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Islands; St. Pierre and Miquelon
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