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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1962, descending sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
1962 31 Dec
196-
The first indigenous local spiritual assembly in Venezuela was formed among the Yaruro Indians of Apure state in the village of Agua Linda. Local Spiritual Assembly; Indigenous people; Agua Linda, Venezuela; Venezuela first indigenous Local Spiritual Assembly in Venezuela
1962 27 Dec
196-
The Custodians asked national and local spiritual assemblies to write to the Moroccan ambassador in their respective countries pleading for justice and religious freedom. [MoC398–9] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Custodians; NSA; LSA; Morocco; - Worldwide
1962 23 Dec
196-
The Custodians asked national spiritual assemblies to cable Secretary General of the United Nations U Thant requesting his intervention on behalf of the Bahá'ís under sentence of death and imprisoned for life in Morocco. [BW13:794; MoC397–8] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Custodians; NSA; United Nations; Morocco
1962 21 Dec
196-
Telegrams were sent by the Bahá'í International Community to Secretary-General U Thant and 35 United Nations delegations appealing for help under the Genocide Convention for the Bahá'ís sentenced to death and imprisoned for life in Morocco. [BW13:794] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; Morocco
1962 17 Dec
196-
The Custodians asked the Bahá'í International Community to issue press releases deploring Morocco's persecution of religious minorities and pointing out its failure to adhere to the UN charter condemning religious intolerance. [MoC397] Custodians; Bahá'í International Community; Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; Morocco
1962 14 Dec
196-
The Regional Court of Nador gave its verdict in the case of the 14 Bahá'ís imprisoned in Morocco on charges of sedition: four were acquitted on the grounds that they claim to be Muslims; one was acquitted apparently through family connections; one was released on 15 years' probation owing to his diabetes; five were committed to life imprisonment hard labour; and three were condemned to death. [BBRSM174; MoC18–19]
  • The sentences were appealed to the Supreme Court. [BW13:289; BW14:97; MoC19]
  • Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Morocco
    1962 10 Dec
    196-
    The trial of the 14 Bahá'ís imprisoned in Morocco on charges of sedition opened. [BW13:289; BW14:97]
  • The prosecution made no attempt to prove the charges against the accused. The only evidence presented was that they practised their faith and ignored the faith of Islám. [BW13:289; BW14:97; MoC414-418]
  • Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Morocco
    1962 (Near end of year)
    196-
    Joyce McGuffie, Dale Lillico and Samson Knowlton, all of Brocket, AB, have been delegated by the National Spiritual Assembly as a committee to collect, prepare and edit news from the First Nations and other First Nations teaching in the cities. [CBN No 155 Dec 1962 p3] Joyce McGuffie; Dale Lillico; Samson Knowlton; Brocket, AB
    1962 16 Nov
    196-
    The superstructure of the European House of Worship near Frankfurt was completed and the Temple was turned over to the Bahá'ís by the contractor. [BW13:737; MoC15] Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Langenhain; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Langenhain, Germany; Frankfurt, Germany; Germany
    1962 31 Oct
    196-
    The 14 Bahá'ís imprisoned in Morocco were arraigned before the Regional Court of Nador. [BW13:289; MC18]
  • They were charged with rebellion and disorder, attacks on public security, constituting an association of criminals and attacks on religious faith. [BW13:289; BW14:97; MoC18]
  • Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Morocco
    1962 11 Oct
    196-
    The opening of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II at the Vatican. It was the 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions), each lasting between 8 and 12 weeks, in the autumn of each of the four years 1962 to 1965. (11 October 1962 - 8 December 1965)

    Pope John XXIII called the Council because he felt the Church needed "updating". In order to connect with 20th century people in an increasingly secularized world, some of the Church's practices needed to be improved, and its teaching needed to be presented in a way that would appear relevant and understandable to them.

    Roman Catholic bishops at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) called for outlawing war by international consent and creating a universal public authority that would safeguard security, justice, and human rights. In their encyclicals, Pope John XXIII, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have stated that there is an urgent need for a true world political authority that would be regulated by law, observe the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, promote human development, manage globalization, and establish the common good. [Wikipedia; Black News 6FEB2022]

    Second Vatican Council; Vatican City; Rome, Italy; Italy; Ecumenism
    1962 autumn
    196-
    A property was acquired outside of Gwalior, India, for a teaching institute. [DM192]
  • The institute was later converted into a boarding hostel solely for Indian children and still later into the 'Rabbani School', now an accredited agricultural school. [DM192–3; VV82]
  • Teaching institutes; Rabbani School, India; - Bahá'í inspired schools; Social and economic development; Gwalior, India; India
    1962 23 Sep
    196-
    The Custodians ask the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States to obtain an interview with the personal representative of the King of Morocco who heads that country's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in connection with the Bahá'ís imprisoned in Morocco. [MoC373–4] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; NSA; United Nations; United States (USA); Morocco
    1962 Sep
    196-
    Following full investigation and consultation on certain information concerning the activities of Rex (Reginald) King who has resided in various localities in Central California in recent years, it became necessary for the National Spiritual Assembly at its September meeting to deprive Mr. King of his Bahá'í membership and voting rights. Mr. King is not to be invited to Nineteen-Day Feasts or to participate in any other Bahá'í activities. [US Supplement No 57 November 1962 p2]

    Reginald ("Rex") King, who had been elected secretary of the short-lived New Mexico "National Assembly", dissolved by Remey in 1964. Unhappy about Remey's resistance to his leadership role in the United States, King eventually went to Italy where Remey was living, and had an apparently acrimonious meeting with him. Following this encounter, on 13 September 1969 Remey issued a letter denouncing King: "his station to be ever and eternally that of Satan for evermore". King switched his allegiance to Marangella when the latter advanced his own claims two months later.

    This relationship, however, also soon broke down. King decided that Marangella had made "a number of faulty 'interpretations' of the Writings" and declared that Marangella "had ceased to fulfill the requirements of the office of guardian". He argued, indeed, that "neither Mason Remey nor Joel Marangella had in truth ever been guardians … because of the lack of lineal descendancy" (i.e., from Bahá'u'lláh). What Remey had actually been, King said, was "a regent", and King came to the "realization" that he himself "was in actuality the Second Regent…." [Mason Remey and Those Who Followed Him]

    Covenant-breaking; Rex King (Reginald King); Charles Mason Remey; Joel Marangella
    1962 22 Aug
    196-
    The Custodians ask the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States to make representations to the diplomatic missions of Morocco in Washington and at the United Nations concerning the 14 Bahá'ís imprisoned in Morocco. [MoC368–9] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Human rights; NSA; Custodians; United Nations; United States (USA); Morocco
    1962 24 Jul
    196-
    It was announced that the sixth Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was postponed until April 1963. [MoC362] * Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Bahji, Israel; * Bahá'í World Centre
    1962 20 Jul
    196-
    The passing of Harlan Foster Ober (b. October 6, 1881 in Beverly, Massachusetts) in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
  • He had graduated from Harvard University in 1905 with a B.A. and later obtained a law degree from Northeastern University in Boston.
  • Harlan Ober became a Bahá'í at Green Acre in 1905. Another source said it was in the spring of 1906 in a room in the Commonwealth Hotel in Boston that he overcame his doubts while using a prayer and other literature given to him by Lua Getsinger. [LDNW23; 100-101; SBR120-121]
  • Hooper Harris and Lua Getsinger's brother, Dr. William Moore, were selected to make a teaching trip to India. When Moore died suddenly Harlan Ober was chosen to replace him. As he had no funds for the trip Lua borrowed the money from Mr Hervey Lunt, the father of Alfred Lunt. [LGHC105]
  • In 1906 he made a visit to 'Abdu'l-Bahá while He was still confined to prison.
  • On the 17th of July, 1912 he married Grace Roberts (aunt of future Hand of the Cause John Robarts) in a ceremony conducted by the Reverend Howard Colby Ives at 209 West 78th Street in New York. When 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited America in 1912 He had suggested that Grace Robarts and Harlan marry, and they both agreed with the match, with Harlan travelling to New York from Boston and proposing in Central Park after being informed of the suggestion by Lua Getsinger. 'Abdu'l-Bahá performed the marriage ceremony in the room he was staying in in New York on July 17, 1912, and Howard Colby Ives later performed a legal ceremony. [SoW Vol 3 No 12 p14; Bahaipedia; The Jouney West, July 2012; Mother's Stories: Stories of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Early Believers told by Muriel Ives Barrow Newhall to her son, p. 20]
  • They adopted three children of English, German and Russian background.
  • It was from their home in Cambridge, MA, from the office of the National Teaching Committee, that the first Teaching Bulletin was issued on November 19, 1919. This bulletin evolved to the US Baha'i News.
  • He was closely involved with Race Unity work and made many teaching trips to the southern states with his friend Louis Gregory.
  • He served on the Bahá'í Temple Unity Executive Board as president or secretary from 1918 to 1920. The work of this board was taken over by the National Spiritual Assembly when it was elected in 1922.
  • In 1938 Harlan was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada and he served on it until 1941.
  • Grace passed away in 1938, leaving Harlan widowed.
  • He married his second wife, Dr Elizabeth Kidder Ober in Beverly, MA on the 21st of June, 1941. Shoghi Effendi was pleased with the way the marriage was conducted, without having any church ceremony or minister conduct the service. [BW13p869, 871]
  • After their pilgrimage in 1956 Harlan and Elizabeth Ober travelled to South Africa where they helped form the first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly in Pretoria as had previously been request of them by the Guardian. They returned in December as pioneers. [BW13869]
  • He was appointed to the Auxiliary Board for Protection in Africa in October of 1957 and served on the National Teaching Committee of South and West Africa for two years.
  • He was buried in the Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria. [BW13p870; Find a grave; Bahaipedia; BW13p869]
  • Harlan Ober; Grace Robarts Ober; In Memoriam; US Bahá'í News; Race unity; Elizabeth Kidder Ober; Elizabeth Kidder Ober; Auxiliary board members; Beverly, MA; United States (USA); Pretoria, South Africa; South Africa first US Baha'i News;
    1962 28 Jun
    196-
    President Tubman of Liberia visited the Shrine of the Báb.
  • This is the second official visit of a head of state (but the first foreign head of state) and is notable in that Liberia is the first black republic on the continent of Africa. [BW13:400]
  • See BW13:400 for picture.
  • Báb, Shrine of; - Presidents; Prominent visitors; Firsts, other; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel; Liberia
    1962 22 May
    196-
    The first Athabascan Indian north of the Arctic Circle to become a Bahá'í, Charley Roberts, enrolled. [BW15:455] First Bahá'ís by country or area; Native Americans; Canada first Athabascan Indian Bahá’í north of the Arctic Circle
    10 May
    196-
    The passing of F. St. George Spendlove (b. 23 April, 1897 in Montreal) in Toronto. [BW13p895-899]
  • He was part of the community of early believers in Montreal where he learned about the Faith after returning from the war in Europe.
  • He was a curator of the Canadian Collection at the Royal Ontario Museum. The Face of Early Canada, published in 1958, was illustrated with pieces from this collection. A second book, Collectors' Luck, followed in 1960. [BW13p895–899]
  • See Bahá'ís of Canada.
  • George Spendlove; In Memoriam; Toronto, ON; Montreal, QC; Canada
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was formed in Colombo. [BW13:301] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka first NSA Ceylon
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The first local spiritual assembly of the Loyalty Islands was formed in Nouméa. Local Spiritual Assembly; Noumea, New Caledonia; Loyalty Islands first Local Spiritual Assembly Loyalty Islands
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Belgium was formed. Since 1957 it had come under the jurisdiction of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:275.
  • The founding members were: Fernand Gillain, Elsa de Koninck, Lea Nys, Robert Hubar, Shoghi Ghadimi, Benjamin Levy, Adolphe de Couvreur, Louis Hénuzet, and Hasan-Ali Kamran. [Bahaipedia]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Belgium first NSA Belgium
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    In 1953 the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy and Switzerland had been formed. This Ridván, with the formation of the National Spiritual of Switzerland, the regional assembly was re-named the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy. [BWNS909>/a>] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Italy
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland was formed. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:282.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Switzerland first NSA Switzerland
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden was formed. Since 1957 they had been part of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) plus Denmark and Finland. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:281 or BN No373 August 1962 p7.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Sweden first NSA Sweden
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Spain was formed. Since 1957 the had come under the jurisdiction of the Regional Spiritual Assembly for the Iberian Peninsula. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:281.
  • Its first members were: Antonio Jimenez, Luis Ortuno, Francisco Salas, Jose Lopez Monge, Ruhollah Mehrabhkani, Carlos Chias, Ramon Escartin, Isidro Torrella, and Charles Ioas.[Baháʼí News. No. 376. August 1959 p. 14]
  • Andorra was placed under the jurisdiction of this National Assembly and with the launching of the Nine Year Plan France was assigned to assist in the consolidation of Andorra. [BW14p121]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Spain first NSA Spain
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Portugal was formed. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:280.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Portugal first NSA Portugal
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Norway was formed. Since 1957 they had been part of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) plus Denmark and Finland. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:280.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Norway first NSA Norway
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands was formed. Since 1957 it had come under the jurisdiction of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:279.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Netherlands first NSA Netherlands
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Luxembourg was formed. Since 1957 it had come under the jurisdiction of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:279.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Luxembourg first NSA Luxembourg
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Finland was formed. Since 1957 they had been part of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) plus Denmark and Finland. [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:277 or BN No373 August 1962 p6.
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Finland first NSA Finland
    1962 Ridván
    196-
    The National Spiritual Assembly of Denmark was formed. Since 1957 they had been part of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden) plus Denmark and Finland [BW13:283]
  • For picture see BW13:276 and OLOM10.
  • The formation of the National Assembly accomplished, in part, by the influx of Iranian pioneers. [SRRB14p247]
  • National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Denmark first NSA Denmark
    1962 10 Apr
    196-
    Four Bahá'ís were arrested in Nador, Morocco. [BW13:289; BW14:97]
  • Eventually 14 Bahá'ís in total were arrested: 7 in Nador, 2 in Fez and 5 in Tetuan. [MoC17]
  • For an outline of the situation as it developed over 20 months see MC16–19.
  • Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Arrests; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Morocco
    1962 Apr
    196-
    Virginia Breaks, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for the Caroline Islands, moved to Saipan, the first pioneer to the area. Virginia Breaks; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Pioneers; Saipan, Mariana Islands first pioneer Saipan
    1962 Mar
    196-
    Aboubacar Kâ, a school teacher and the first Senegalese known to become a Bahá'í, enrolled. First Bahá'ís by country or area; Senegal; - Africa the first Senegalese Bahá’í
    1962 25 Jan
    196-
    A Bahá'í Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Tetuan, Morocco, Faouzi Zine Al Abidine, was dismissed from his post and warned to have no association with other Bahá'ís. [MoC17] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Morocco
    1962 1 Jan
    196-
    Amelia Collins passed away in Haifa. (b. 7 June, 1873) [BW13:399, 840; MC12]
  • For her obituary see BW13:834–41.
  • Shoghi Effendi appointed her (publicly) among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • For the cable of the Hands of the Cause see MC333.
  • See also Milly by A Q Faizi and PSBW73–106.
  • For a timeline of her life see Shareable Bahá'í Resources.
  • While serving in Haifa she was given 'Abdu'l-Bahá's room. She was the last person to occupy it. [TG231]
  • See Collins, Amelia: The Fulfilled Hope of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Richard Francis for further details of her life.
  • See Remembering 'Milly' – A Tribute to Amelia Collins by Yas Taherzadeh.
  • See Milly: A Tribute to The Hand of the Cause of God Amelia E. Collins by Abu'l-Qasim Faizi.
  • Amelia Collins; * Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; In Memoriam; Millie Collins; Abu'l-Qasim Faizi; Haifa, Israel
    1962 (In the year)
    196-
    Emeric Sala, made a visit to several islands in the Indian Ocean and reported that there were some 400 Bahá'ís in Mauritius of Indian, Moslem, Chinese, Creole and French descent. [TG163] Emeric Sala; Mauritius
    1962 (In the year)
    196-
    The administrative institutions of the Faith were banned in Indonesia by President Sukarno. [BW19:41]
  • BW15:174 says this was in 1964, other indications are that it was around the time of the International Convention. [Servants of the Glory page 30]
  • Persecution, Indonesia; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Indonesia
    1962 (In the year)
    196-
    Thirty thousand new Bahá'ís enrolled in India in six months. [VV9] Mass conversion; India
    1962 (In the year)
    196-
    Bahá'í homes in Morocco were searched by the police and Bahá'í literature seized. [MoC17] Persecution, Morocco; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Morocco
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