Chronology: Date 1957-0

date	event	tags	firsts	refs
1957 28 - 30 Sep	First Bahá'í Summer School held in Taiwan. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p21]	Summer schools; First summer and winter schools; Taiwan	first Bahá'í Summer School held in Taiwan	find ref
1957 6 Sep	Shoghi Effendi announced 'the complete evacuation of the remnant of Covenant-breakers and the transfer of all their belongings from the precincts of the Most Holy Shrine'. [MBW124] See VSE166 for Audrey Robarts' observation of the Covenant-breakers at Bahjí during her pilgrimage in 1955.	Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breakers; Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of; Akka; Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
1957 27 Jul	In July, 1957 the sacred remains of Mirzá Buzurg, the father of Bahá'u'lláh, were identified and removed to a Bahá'í cemetery. On July 27 of that year, Hands of the Cause 'Ali Akbar Furfltan, Shu'é'u'llah 'Alá'í and 'Ali Muhammad Varqa arrived from Ṭihrán to join Hand of the Cause Tarézu'lláh Samandari in paying homage, on behalf of the Guardian, to the memory of that "blessed and highly revered personage." [BW13p297 ]	Mírzá Buzurg; Baghdad, Iraq; Iraq
1957 18 Jul	It was reported in the Canadian Bahá'í News, based on the Guardian's message of the 18th of July, that the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran had the intention of publishing a newsletter every 60 days. The publication was to be sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies as well as their local communities. They reported that: The Faith had been established in more than 1060 centres in Iran, this was up from 750 when the persecutions started in 1955. They reported that the persecutions were gradually subsiding. The government agreed to return the Haziratu'l-Quds and the National Hazira to the Bahá'is under the proviso that no meetings be held in the buildings. They disseminate the news of the victories in other parts of the world to all the communities in Iran. They said, "One fortunate circumstance that compensates for all the persecution of the Friends in Iran is the constant communication with the World Centre of the Cause of God and the Beloved Guardian. The Friends are going on pilgrimage and upon their return shared the messages and news from the Holy Land. There were 64 pilgrims in the year 113. Since the National Spiritual Assembly was responsible for the administration of the Faith in Turkey, the Turkish pilgrims have been providing the Iranians with their messages and glad-tidings. There were 32 pilgrims from Turkey the previous year. [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p5]	Persecution, Iran; Statistics; Iran
1957 Jul	Margaret Bates and her daughter Jean Frankel of the United States arrived in the Nicobar Islands and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:454; PH63]	Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Islands; Andaman and Nicobar Islands
1957 9 Jun	The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States designated the second Sunday in June as Race Unity Day. The purpose of Race Unity Day is to promote racial harmony and understanding and to focus attention on racial prejudice, which Bahá'ís believe is the most challenging moral issue facing our nation. Since then, communities throughout the country have held celebrations, open to the public, every year on the second Sunday in June. [Race Unity Day by Christopher Buck published in Religious Celebrations, pages 727-732]	Race Unity Day; United States
1957 8 – 21 Jun	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	first Bahá'í on Hokkaido Island
1957 4 Jun	Shoghi Effendi added protection of the Cause to the duties of the Hands of the Cause. They were to perform this function in collaboration with the national spiritual assemblies. [BBRSM127; CB380; MBW122–3; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p3]	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Protection; Appointed arm; Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
1957 Jun	The Covenant-breakers completely abandoned Bahjí. [CB367–9; DH215; MBW120–2; PP233–4]	Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breakers; Akka
1957 31 May	The judgement of the Supreme Court of Israel against the Covenant-Breakers appeal, resulted in their removal from the properties in Bahjí.	Covenant-breakers; Bahji, Israel; Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel		find ref
1957 7 May	Shoghi Effendi sent a fragment of the plaster from the room of the Báb in the Fortress of Máh-Kú to Australia to be set in the foundations of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Sydney. [LANZ134; SBR172]	Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Sydney; Fortress of Mah-Ku; Gifts; Relics; Boxes containing dust, earth or plaster; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Sydney, Australia; Australia
1957 May	Pouva Murday of Mauritius arrived in the Chagos Archipelago and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh.	Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Islands; Chagos Archipelago
1957 Ridván	The National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula was established at the first National Convention of Arabia which was held in Manama, Bahrain. [BWIM249] By 1962, the regions with Bahá'í communities under the Assembly's jurisdiction were the Aden Protectorate, Bahrain, Hijaz, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. [BW13p955] From 1962 until 30 November 1967, British administered the Aden Protectorate in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The constituent territories were the following: Aden (including the city of Aden and its surrounding areas), Hadhramaut, Mahra, Upper Aulaqi Sultanate, Lower Aulaqi Sultanate, Dhala, Fadhli Sultanate, and Beihan. It was known as the Federation of South Arabia and it was to become, for the most part, The Peoples Republic of South Yemen. Prior to their unification on the 22 of May, 1990. North Yemen, (the Yemen Arab Republic), and South Yemen, (the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen), existed as separate countries with distinct political systems.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Aden Protectorate; Manama; Bahrain; Yemen
1957 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly in Brunei had already been formed. [BW 13:302]	Local Spiritual Assembly; Brunei	first Local Spiritual Assembly Brunei
1957 Ridván	The first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Apia, Western Samoa was formed. The members were: Lilian Ala'i, Ghodsieh Ala'i, Nemat Ala'i, To'alima Sa'ialala, Lotoa Rock, Emanuel Rock, William I Laing, Sa'ialala Tamasese, and Suhayl A Ala'i. [CBN No99 April, 1958 p5]	Local Spiritual Assembly; Lilian Alai; Ghodsieh Alai; Nemat Alai; Toalima Saialala; Lotoa Rock; Emanuel Rock; William I Laing; Saialala Tamasese; Suhayl A Alai; Apia, Samoa; Samoa	first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Apia
1957 Ridván	The formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canberra, the last capital city in Australia to form.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Canberra; Australia	first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canberra	find ref
1957 Ridván	In his last Ridván message Shoghi Effendi announced that the exterior of International Bahá'í Archives had been completed and that the roof was in place. [VBHP38; DH169; GBF63–4; PP264–6] It had cost approximately a quarter of a million dollars and was, like the Shrine of the Báb, ordered in Italy, entirely carved and completed there, and shipped to Haifa for erection; not only was each separate stone numbered, but charts showing where each on went facilitated its being place in its proper position." [PP265] Ugo Giachery supervised the work in Italy and Leroy Ioas in Haifa. Because the landscaping had been completed prior to the completion of the construction, it had to be built from the rear with only a space of about 5 metres on three sides to work in. [PP265] For details of its construction and photographs see BW13:403–33.	International Bahá'í Archives; Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; World Centre; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; Leroy Ioas; Ugo Giachery; Bahá'í World Centre; Mount Carmel, Israel; Haifa, Israel
1957 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly in Nyasaland was formed at Lilongwe.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Lilongwe, Malawi; Nyasaland (Malawi)	first Local Spiritual Assembly Nyasaland
1957 Ridván	The first local spiritual assembly in Cape Verde was formed in Praia.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Praia; Cape Verde Islands	first Local Spiritual Assembly Cape Verde
1957 Ridván	The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Arabian Peninsula with its seat in Bahrayn (Bahrain). [BW15p296] The area was altered in 1972 for the formation of two National Spiritual Assemblies, Eastern Arabian and Kuwait. [BW15p297]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) plus Denmark and Finland was formed with its seat in Stockholm, Sweden. [BW13:274]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Stockholm; Sweden	first NSA Scandinavia and Finland
1957 Ridván	The National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska was formed and incorporated immediately upon formation. [HE31] This was the first time a political entity (i.e. the United States) was subdivided to form a national spiritual assembly. [BW13:270] In 1927 the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada resolved, in their Declaration of Trust and By-law of the National Spiritual Assembly, to exclude Alaska and Hawaii and all United States trusts and territories including Puerto Rico from their jurisdiction. [Constitution of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States] Picture.	Incorporation; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Alaska, USA; United States	first NSA Alaska; first time a political entity subdivided to form NSA
1957 Ridván	The National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand formed separate National Assemblies. [BW13p306] Since 1934 they were part of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; New Zealand	first NSA New Zealand
1957 Ridván	The National Spiritual Assembly of Pakistan was formed with its first National Convention in Karachi. Previously it was administered by the Regional Assembly of India, Pakistán and Burma. The "mother assembly" reverted by to its former name, The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India and Burma and was so until 1959. [BW13p299] On May 28th the Assembly was incorporated. [BW13p300]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Karachi, Pakistan; Pakistan	first NSA Pakistan
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of South East Asia was formed with its seat in Djakarta. [BW13:289,302] Its area of jurisdiction was Borneo, Indo-China, Indonesia, Malaya, Sarawak, Siam, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Philippines, Dutch New Guinea, Mentawai Islands, Cocos Islands, Portuguese Timor and Brunei. A subsidiary Six-Year Plan was formed. [BW13:302] This assembly was dissolved in 1964. [BW14p99]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Djakarta; Indonesia	first NSA South East Asia
1957 - 1963	The launch of the Northeast Asia Six Year Plan (1957-1963) The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia had an area of jurisdiction embracing Japan, Korea, Formosa, Macao, Hong Kong, Hainan Island, and Sakhalin Island. [JTA80-86]	- Plans; Northeast Asia Six Year Plan; Japan; Korea; Formosa (Taiwan); Macau; Hong Kong; Hainan Island; Sakhalin Island
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia was formed with its seat in Tokyo, Japan. [BW13:304] Its area of jurisdiction was Japan, Korea, Formosa, Macau, Hong Kong, Hainan Island and Sakhalin Island.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; North East Asia; Tokyo, Japan; Japan	first NSA North East Asia
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Greater Antilles was formed with its seat in Kingston, Jamaica The Assembly was disbanded in 1961 when individual National Assemblies were formed for the constituent countries.. [BW13:257] The countries involved: Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic [BN No 312 p7]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Kingston, ON; Jamaica	first NSA Greater Antilles
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela was formed at Lima, Peru. [BW13:257] Prior to this time, since 1951 it had been administer by the National Spiritual Assembly of South America. [Bahaipedia NSA; South America]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Lima, Peru; Peru	first NSA Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia was formed at Buenos Aires, Argentina. [BW13:257] Prior to this time, since 1951 it had been administer by the National Spiritual Assembly of South America. [Bahaipedia NSA; South America]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Buenos Aires; Argentina; Chile; Uruguay; Paraguay; Bolivia	first NSA Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of Mexico and the Republics of Central America was formed at Panama City, Panama. [BW13:257] The countries involved were: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Mexico; Panama; Costa Rica; Nicaragua; Honduras; El Salvador; Guatemala	first NSA Mexico and the Republics of Central America
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly for the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) was formed with its seat in Madrid, Spain. [BW13:274] The Assembly was disbanded in 1962 when Spain and Portugal established independent National Assemblies.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Madrid, Spain; Spain; Portugal	first NSA Iberian Peninsula
1957 Ridván	The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries was formed with its seat in Brussels, Belgium. [BW13:274] Its area of jurisdiction was Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Brussels, Belgium; Belgium; Netherlands; Luxembourg; Benelux	first NSA Benelux Countries
1957 Apr	Shoghi Effendi announced that the Treasury Department of Israel had issued an expropriation order for the remaining property held by Covenant-breakers at Bahjí, mainly the dilapidated building north of the mansion. [MBW109]	Bahji, Israel; Covenant-breakers; Akka
1957 Apr	Shoghi Effendi announced that the Faith had been established in 251 countries, that there were more than a thousand local spiritual assemblies, that Bahá'ís lived in more than 4,200 localities, and that every territory mentioned in the Tablets of the Divine Plan had been opened to the Faith. Bahá'í literature had been translated into 230 languages. [MBW105–6]	Statistics; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Shoghi Effendi, Works of
1957 c. Apr - 1958 Apr	The first Tuareg to become a Bahá'í enrolled in Rabat, Morocco.	First believers by background; Rabat; Morocco	first Tuareg Bahá’í
1957 27 Mar	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]	Agnes Alexander; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; George Townshend
1957 25 Mar	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 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.	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; George Townshend; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Dublin, Ireland; Ireland
1957 3 Feb	Enoch Olinga arrived in the Holy Land, the first black African Bahá'í to go on pilgrimage. [BW13p288]	Enoch Olinga; First pilgrims; Pilgrims; Haifa, Israel	first black African Bahá’í on pilgrimage.
1957 1 Jan	In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian it was state that there were no Bahá'ís in the republics of the Soviet Union. Republics of Russia with no Bahá'ís: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Ukraine, and White Russia (Belarus) Satellite countries with no Bahá'ís: Albania Roumania (Romania) Mongolia, Sakhalin Island, and Hainan Island. [1 January 1957]	Statistics; Soviet Union
1957 (In the year)	The publication of The Secret of Divine Civilization by 'Abdu'l-Bahá as translated by Marzieh Gail in Wilmette Il by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust. It was earlier translated as The Mysterious Forces of Civilization by another translator, this was 'Abdu'l-Bahá's message to the government, clergy and people of Iran on the requirements of true civilization. It applies as well to the present as mankind's traditional political and social philosophies have shown themselves incapable of renewing human civilization. [Collins3-107 p13] See Bahá'í-library.org for documents related to the work by 'Abdu'l-Bahá.	* `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; Marzieh Gail; Wilmette, IL; Illinois, USA; USA
1957 (In the year)	The land for the future Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Langenhain was acquired. [from the pamphlet "First European Bahá'í House of Worship" published by the NSA of Germany]	Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Langenhain; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Langenhain, Germany; Germany
1957 c.	The first local person to become a Bahá'í in Cambodia, Mr Lim Incchin, a young Chinese, enrolled. [Servants of the Glory page23] The country was first settled by two pioneers one of whom was a Professor Avaregan. [Servants of the Glory page21]	Lim Incchin; Professor Avaregan; Cambodia	first Bahá’í in Cambodia
1957 (In the year)	Nagoya, Japan, became the only spiritual assembly to be made up entirely of Japanese believers.	Local Spiritual Assembly; Nagoya; Japan	first Local Spiritual Assembly all Japanese
1957 (In the year)	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, Czechoslovakia; Persecution, Other; Persecution, Arrests; Persecution; Prague; Czechoslovakia
1957 (In the year)	The Berbers in Algeria were first contacted by the Bahá'ís and a number of Berber families enrolled.	First believers by background; Berbers; Algeria	first Berber Bahá'ís
1957 (In the year)	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
1957 (In the year)	The first member of the Newari ethnic group of Nepal to become a Bahá'í, Rishi Prasad Joshi, enrolled.	First believers by background; Nepal	first Newari Bahá'í of Nepal
1957 (In the year)	The first indigenous person to become a Bahá'í in the Dutch West Indies, Rhoma Matthew enrolled.	First believers by background; Dutch West Indies (Lesser Antilles); Lesser Antilles	first indigenous Bahá’í in the Dutch West Indies
1957 (In the year)	The first contacts with the Aboriginal people were made in Kampong Jus in Malacca by Saurajen, as reported at a special meeting held with Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. Muhajir in Malacca on 29 December 1957. [Jewel Among Nations, Splendour Publications, Author A. Manisegaran. Pages 221-222]	Rahmatullah Muhajir; G. Saurajen; Aboriginal people; Firsts, other; Kampung Jus; Malacca; Malaysia	first contact with aboriginal population of Malayan peninsula
Try also a shorter date like or 1957 or 195 try also the Chronology Canada — 1957-0 or 1957 or 195

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