Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1960, descending — sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
1960 Late Eric Moyce and Gay Corker, both youth and the first two local people to become Bahá'ís in St Helena, enrolled. Eric Moyce; Gay Corker; St. Helena first local Bahá’ís in St Helena
1960 Dec Philip Suning, the first member of the Iban tribe to become a Bahá'í, enrolled. First believers by background; Brunei first Bahá’í Iban tribe
1960 Dec Mr Yan Kee Leong of Malaysia took the Bahá'í Faith to the remote Iban people of Brunei. Yan Kee Leong; Brunei first teacher Iban people
1960 20 Nov The cornerstone of the fifth House of Worship was laid in Langenhain, Germany, by Hand of the Cause of God Amelia Collins. [BW13:739; MC238, 245, 249–50]
  • See also MoC14–15, 236.
    		•  * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Langenhain; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Amelia Collins; Langenhain, Germany; Frankfurt, Germany; Germany; Europe
    1960 18 Nov Clara Dunn, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Sydney. (b.12 May 1869) [BW13:859; MoC245]
  • For her obituary see BW13:859–62.
  • For cable from the Hands see MoC245.
  • See also SBR153–75.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. She was one of only eight women appointed. [MoCxxiii]
  • For a biography see The Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project.
  • Remembering Clara Dunn by Melanie Lotfali.
    		• Clara Dunn; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Sydney, Australia; Australia
    1960 13 Nov The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land sent ballots to all National and Regional Assemblies containing a ballot kit for each member. The secretaries were to collect the ballots and mail them to the World Centre for arrival before the 21st of April. Once received they sent a message of acknowledgment. [MoC245, 282] International Bahá'í Council; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1960 2 Nov The Hands of the Cause issued a message from their fourth Conclave. [MoC237–44]
  • All the Hands of the Cause were henceforth to render their services on a global, rather than a regional, scale. [MoC239]
    		•  - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Haifa, Israel
    1960 18 – 27 Oct The fourth Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was convened at Bahjí. [MoC177-245] Bahji, Israel; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1960 20 Aug The presentation of the doctoral dissertation of Allan Luctus Ward entitled An Historical Study of the North American Speaking Tour of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and a Rhetorical Analysis of His Addresses `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Rhetoric; Allan Ward; Ann Arbor, MI; Michigan, USA; USA
    1960 3 Aug Cable from the Hands of the Cause of God announcing the expulsion as Covenant Breakers of John Carre, Barnard Fillon, Moneer Darakhshan, Joel Marangella, Jaques Soghomonian, Donald Harvey, John Byers and Mary Wilkin. [MoC223] Custodians; Covenant-breakers; Joel Marangella; John Carre; Barnard Fillon; Moneer Darakhshan; Joel Marangella; Jaques Soghomonian; Donald Harvey; John Byers; Mary Wilkin; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1960 Aug All Bahá'í activity in Egypt was prohibited by Presidential Decree No 263 issued by President Nasser of the United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria).
  • Bahá'ís were interrogated, arrested, fined and imprisoned and their property confiscated. [BBRSM174; MC228]
  • Since 1956 National Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa had been led by the former National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and the Sudan. In 1960 difficulties in Egypt made it impossible to administer territories outside of Egypt a regional administrative committee was formed and this, in turn, was replaced with a new National Spiritual Assembly with its headquarters in Addis Abba. [BW13p287]
  • See message from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of Egypt dated 21 December 2006.
    		•  Persecution, Egypt; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Egypt
    1960 26 Jul The Hands of the Cause of God declared Charles Mason Remey a Covenant-breaker. [BBRSM221; MC224–5] - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers; Haifa, Israel
    1960 12 Jul Horace Hotchkiss Holley, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Haifa. (b. 7 April, 1887 in Torrington, CT) [MC226-227, BW13:849-858]
  • See FMH58-59 for the story of how he came to believe in the Faith.
  • He had served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States from 1923 until 1959 and as the secretary from 1924 to 1930 and 1932 until 1959. After the passing of the Guardian he served in the Holy Land. [UN110; BN No 347 January 1960 p1]
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • For his obituary see BW13:849–858.
  • For cable from the Hands of the Cause see MC217–18.
  • See also SBR214-247, LoF253-264 and Holley, Horace Hotchkiss by R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram.
      Some of his is publications: See Collins7.1197 to 7.1233]
    • The Bahá'í Religion: Papers Read at the Conference on Some Living Religions Within the British Empire Papers presented by Horace Holley and Ruhi Afnan. 1925 [Collins7.386]
    • Bahaism: The Modern Social Religion, (1913) [Collins7.1203]
    • Religion for Mankind, (1956) [Collins7.1222]
    • World Unity,
    • Bahá'í, The Spirit of the Age, (1921) [Collins7.1201]
    • Bahá'í Scriptures; Selections from the Utterances of Bahaʼuʼllah and Abdul Baha, (1923 and 1928) The first general book-length compilation of the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Many passages were early and nonauthoritative translations. The book was superseded by Bahá'í World Faith [Collins4.71]
    • Read-aloud Plays,
    • Divinations and Creation,
    • The World Economy of Baháʼuʼlláh
    • The Inner Garden; A Book of Verse
    • The Reality of Man (1931) [Collins3.103]
    • He was a man of enormous capacity. When asked about it he referred to a "zone of energy" in which he sometimes operated when more than normal strength was available to him. [FMH58]
    • See the biography Infinite Horizons - The Life and Times of Horace Holley by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson published by George Ronald 2022.
    		• Horace Holley; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Bahá'í Scriptures (book); Drama; Plays; Arts; Haifa, Israel; Torrington, CT; Connecticut, USA; USA
    1960 1 Jul Ben and Louise Whitecow (early Peigan believers) married in Calgary, Alberta, were the first Bahá'ís in Canada to have a legally recognized Bahá'í marriage. [BW13:687] Weddings; Marriage; Recognition (legal); Firsts, other; Calgary, AB; Alberta, Canada; Canada first Bahá’ís in Canada to have legally recognized Bahá’í marriage
    1960 31 May In a letter addressed to all National Assemblies in the Western Hemisphere and to the Auxiliary Boards, the Hands of the Faith Corrine True, Hermann Grossmann, and William Sears provided an update on the activities of Charles Mason Remey. Some salient points were:
  • Of all the National Spiritual Assemblies only France failed to reject Remey's claims. Hand of the Cause Faizi made a visit to investigate and, with the co-operation of the European Hands, arranged for a new election.
  • Remey had sent two letters calling for support and in the second he deemed the remaining twenty-six Hands of the Cause "violators".
  • It was made known that for the previous two years Remey had been trying to convince his fellow Hands to appoint a Guardian. Until the previous Ridván he hadn't disclosed that it was he, himself, that he had in mind. Remey was aware and had been shown a letter from the Guardian clearly stating that the Hands did not have the authority to appoint a Guardian, only to ratify the choice. He had made his claim notwithstanding the vow that he had taken along with the other Hands in November, 1957 at Bahjí, and re-affirmed in 1958 with their signatures, to complete the Plan and elect the Universal House of Justice at Ridván, 1963. The question of the Guardianship would be referred to the Universal House of Justice.
  • The Hands had spent two years trying to convince Remey of the impossibility of appointing a Guardian. Up to this point they had taken no action other than to warn the friends of his intentions and to ask them to refrain from associating with him.
  • They urged the friends to concentrate their full energies on completing the Plan. [Statement on Mason Remey from the Western Hands of the Faith] iiiii
    		• Covenant-breakers; Charles Mason Remey; Corinne True; Hermann Grossmann; William Sears; Custodians; Guardianship
    1960 17 – 18 May The Bahá'í International Community attended a meeting called by the United Nations Office of Public Information to discuss problems of cooperation 'with the United Nations family insofar as its programme affects the new nations'. The Bahá'í statement regarding this became part of the conference record. [BW13:792]
  • For the text of statement see BW13:792–4.
    		• Bahá'í International Community; United Nations; - BIC statements
    1960 13 May The International Bahá'í Council wrote to the Custodians recording its decision taken on 27 April to reject the claims of Charles Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. [Mc206–7] International Bahá'í Council; Charles Mason Remey; Custodians; Covenant-breakers; Guardianship; Haifa, Israel
    1960 12 – 31 May Six national spiritual assemblies sent messages of support to the Custodians, repudiating the claim made by Charles Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. [MC207–8] National Spiritual Assembly; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers; Guardianship
    1960 5 May Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qásim Faizí was sent by the Custodians to France to meet with the National Spiritual Assembly and Bahá'ís of France. He was accompanied by Auxiliary Board Member Dr Aziz Navidi. [MC197]
  • Initially eight of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly accepted the claim of Mason Remey.
  • After consultation, five members of the assembly continued to support Charles Mason Remey in his claim to be the second Guardian and resigned from the assembly. The five members who sided with Remey were: Joel Marangella, Bernard Fillon, Donald Harvey, Monir Derakhchan and Jaques Soghomonian. The four that remained true to the Covenant were A-M Barafroukhteh, Alain Tamenne, Sara Kenny, and Henriette Samimy. Even though some or maybe all of this group had voted to accept Remey they changed their vote after the meeting with Mr. Faizi. The national assembly was dissolved. [MC203]
  • See SETPE2P236-244 for an account of Mason Remey's defection and ultimate end.
    		• Guardianship; Covenant-breakers; - Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Abu'l-Qasim Faizi; National Spiritual Assembly; Charles Mason Remey; Joel Marangella; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; France
    1960 May The National Library Placement Committee offered to place one or two books in local libraries on behalf of any Assembly or group upon request. They could choose one or two titles from among the following three: The Promise of All Ages, Christ and Bahá'u'lláh, or Portals to Freedom and the committee would send the books directly to the library. [CBN No 124 May 1960 p4]
  • Committee members as of this date were: Marjorie Merrick, George Spendlove, and Jan van der Vliet. [CBN No 127 August 1960 p6]
    		•  National Library Placement Committee
    1960 30 Apr – 10 May Twenty–four national spiritual assemblies and five national conventions sent messages of support to the Custodians, repudiating the claim made by Charles Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. [MC199–202]
  • The National Spiritual Assembly of France voted to recognize Remey's claim. [MC203]
    		• National Spiritual Assembly; Custodians; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers; Guardianship; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; France
    1960 30 Apr The unveiling of Statue of a Liberated Woman by sculptor Fuad Abdurahmanov (b. 28 April, 1915 in Shaki, d. 15 June, 1971 Baku) The statue stands in central Baku and depicts a woman casting off her veil. It is said to have been influenced by the story of Tahirih. [BWNS1150]
  • For a photo of the statue from another angle see Part III of my Will and Testament by Vahid Houston Ranjbar.
    		• Fuad Abdurahmanov; Statue of a Liberated Woman; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Tahirih; Veils; Bandar Anzali, Iran; Azerbaijan
    1960 28 Apr The Custodians called upon all believers to join the Hands in repudiation of the claims of Charles Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. [MC196–7] Custodians; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers; Guardianship; Haifa, Israel
    1960 27 Apr The International Bahá'í Council by unanimous vote rejected the claim of Charles Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. [MC206–7] International Bahá'í Council; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers; Guardianship; Haifa, Israel
    1960 Ridván The Custodians announced that the Bahá'í Faith was represented in over 256 territories and was established in over 5,800 localities; there were 31 national spiritual assemblies and nearly 1,500 local spiritual assemblies; and Bahá'í literature is in 268 languages. [Mc183–96] Custodians; Growth; Statistics; Ten Year Crusade; - Worldwide
    1960 Ridván c. Hand of the Cause Charles Mason Remey claimed he was the second, 'hereditary' Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith. [BW13:397; BW16:90; SS49]
  • See MC205–6, 231–6 for details of Remey's claims.
  • Joel Marangella was Mason Remey's "Siyyid Muhammad", that he encouraged Remey to make a claim for the Guardianship with the hope that he might succeed him. [Bahaipedia]
  • See also BBRSM130-1, 138–9; CB386–91; MC196–217, 223–8; SBBH1:220, NOTE 207.
  • At some point in 1960 Mason sent notification of his "appointment" as guardian to the Israeli government. [British Library]
    		• Guardianship; Covenant-breakers; Charles Mason Remey; Joel Marangella; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1960 Feb The National Promulgation Committee consisted of Fred Graham, Douglas Martin, Donald Dainty with Jeanie Seddon as secretary. [CBC No 121 February 1960 p2]
  • In August the secretary was Mrs Gale Burland. [CBN No 126 August 1960 p7]
    		•  Promulgation Campaign
    1960 Jan Frédéric Hodonou (b. January 9, 1929, Ouidah, Benin. d. January 10, 2016 in Ouidah, Benin) was introduced to the Faith by Madame Geneviève Lai, a French artist and her Vietnamese husband in Cotonou. [Bahá'í Chronicles] Frederic Hodonou; Cotonou, Benin; Benin first Baha'i of Benin
    1960 (In the year) The first local spiritual assembly in the Cocos Islands was formed on West Island.
  • For picture see BW13:1052.
    		•  Local Spiritual Assembly; West Island, Australia first Local Spiritual Assembly on Cocos Islands
    1960 (In the year) Bahá'ís in Angola were detained and questioned by officials.
  • Joaquim Sampaio was carried off in the middle of the night and was never seen again. It was presumed that he was executed or died in a prison camp.
  • One family was forced to leave the country.
  • The war of independence in Angola lasted from 1961 to 1974.
    		• Persecution, Angola; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Angola
    1960 (In the year) The first Maya-Quiche to become a Bahá'í in Guatemala, Filomena Cajas de Velasquez, a tourist guide, enrolled.
  • Later she was the first Guatemalan woman to serve on the national spiritual assembly.
    		•  Filomena Cajas de Velasquez; Guatemala first Maya-Quiche Bahá’í; first Guatemalan woman on NSA
    1960 (In the year) The first Côte d'Ivorian to become a Bahá'í, Mr Un Bodo, a Bété from the region of Gagnoa working as a policeman in Abidjan, enrolled. First Bahá'ís by country or area; Ivory Coast first Côte d’Ivorian a Bahá’í
    1960s, early Two Bahá'í primary schools were opened in Uganda. - Bahá'í inspired schools; Uganda
    1960s, early The first woman Somali to become a Bahá'í, Fatumeh Jama, enrolled. Fatumeh Jama; Somalia first Bahá’í woman Somalia
    1960 (In the decade) A number of Bahá'í primary schools were opened in Bolivia. - Bahá'í inspired schools; Bolivia

    Try also a shorter date like 196

    try also the Chronology Canada — 1960 or 196

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