Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1978, ascending — sort newest first

date event tags firsts
1978 (In the year) The first local spiritual assembly in Bonaire was formed.
  • It never functioned and was dissolved in 1989.
  • See also West, Letters From Bonaire.
    		•  Local Spiritual Assembly; Bonaire first Local Spiritual Assembly in Bonaire
    1978 (In the year) Ten Bahá'ís were killed in Iran, seven by mobs. [BW18:291]
  • For the response of Bahá'í institutions to the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran see BW18:337.
    		•  Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Mobs; - Persecution; Human Rights; Iran
    1978 (In the year) The publication of Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. [TRAKA]

    It is also published under the title "Fountain of Wisdom: A Collection of Writings from Baháʼu'lláh".

    Sixteen Tablets revealed by Bahá'u'lláh during the later years of His life, including the Tablet of Carmel, the Book of the Covenant, and the Tablet of Wisdom, as well as excerpts from other Writings. Six of the tablets in this volume were translated into English and published in 1917. The translations were improved upon by Shoghi Effendi, and those not translated by him were filled in with the publication in 1978 under the supervision of the Universal House of Justice. [wikipedia]

    		 Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; Translation; * Publications; Fountain of Wisdom (book); Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1978 (In the year) In Iran, many local Bahá'í centres were seized by armed men of the revolutionary committees, along with files and membership lists. [BW17:79–80] Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Iran
    1978 (In the year) The Bahá'ís of Vietnam were prohibited by the government from meeting and practising their religion. [BW17:81; BW19:50]
  • Bahá'í centres throughout the country were closed or confiscated;
  • The national Hazíratu'l-Quds in Ho Chi Minh City was seized and made into an orphanage;
  • Two members of the national spiritual assembly were arrested and sent to 're-education' camps.
  • One was released in 1982, owing to ill health.
    		• Persecution, Vietnam; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Vietnam
    1978 15 Jan The first National Bahá'í Women's Conference of Niger took place. Women; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Women; - Conferences, National; - First conferences; Niger first National Bahá’í Women’s Conference of Niger
    1978 Feb The government of the Congo banned the majority of smaller religious groups, including the Bahá'í Faith. [BW17:141]
  • The national Hazíratu'l-Quds was confiscated and the assemblies dissolved.
    		• Persecution, Congo; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Congo, Democratic Republic of (Zaire)
    1978 Mar The first Bahá'í-owned school in Pakistan, the New Day Montessori, opened in Karachi. - Bahá'í inspired schools; Karachi, Pakistan; Pakistan first Bahá’í-owned school in Pakistan
    1978 4 Mar Christaline Francis, the first woman of the Caribs to become a Bahá'í, enrolled in Dominica. First Bahá'ís by country or area; Dominica first woman Carib Bahá’í in Dominica
    1978 27 Mar Counsellors do not have any legislative, executive or judicial authority, priestly functions, and can not make authoritative interpretations, however, the Universal House of Justice explained that they outrank Assemblies and the Assemblies are to keep them informed and consider their advice and recommendations. The relationship between the Councellors and the Assemblies is to be one characterized by love and a common desire to serve rather than by rank or station. [27 March 1978] Counsellors
    1978 Apr Dorothy Francis, an Aboriginal person from the Salteaux tribe, was awarded the Order of Canada for her services to Canadian native peoples and her efforts to preserve their culture. [BW17:103; VV29]
  • For a picture see BW17:103.
    		• Dorothy Francis; Canada
    1978 15 - 15 Apr At the second Seminar on Bahá'í Studies held at the University of Lancaster Denis MacEoin, a Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, delivered his paper Early Shaykhí Reaction to the Báb and His Claims. It has been presented in Studies in Bábí & Bahá'í History, Volume 1, edited by Moojan Momen. Bahá'í studies; Bahá'í Studies, Associations for; Shaykhism; Lancaster, England; Lancashire, England; United Kingdom
    1978 Ridván The Universal House of Justice was elected for the fourth time at the International Convention held in Haifa. [BW17:293]
  • Those elected were: 'Alí Nakhjavání, Hushmand Fatheazam, Amoz Gibson, Ian Semple, David Ruhe, Charles Wolcott, David Hofman, Hugh Chance, Borrah Kavelin, . [Mess63-86p381] .
  • For details of the International Convention and pictures see BW17:293–300.
    		•  Universal House of Justice, Election of; Conventions, International; Elections; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1978 Ridvan Delegates to the International Convention attended a ceremony to further dedicate the new building for the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. The superstructure of the building was completed at this stage. Chairing the event was Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery with special guest Ethel Revell, former member of the International Bahá'í Council in attendance. A casket containing dust from both Holy Shrines was placed in a niche specially designed for it.
  • Delegates from 123 National/Regional Assemblies attended. [BW17p293-300]
    		•  Universal House of Justice, Seat of; Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of; Báb, Shrine of; Boxes containing dust, earth or plaster; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of Cyprus was formed with its seat in Nicosia. [BW17:190, 348] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Nicosia, Cyprus; Cyprus first NSA Cyprus, the first island in the Mediterranean to form an NSA.
    1978 Ridván The first National Spiritual Assembly of Mauritania was formed with its seat in Nouakchott. [BW17:141, 348, BW19:491] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Nouakchott; Mauritania first National Spiritual Assembly of Mauritania is formed
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas was formed with its seat in Nassau. [BW17:162, 348] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Nassau, Bahamas; Bahamas first The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas is formed
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of the Mariana Islands was formed. [BW17:174–176, 348; DM348, 386]
  • For picture see DM387.
    		• National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Mariana Islands first National Spiritual Assembly of the Marshall Islands
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of Burundi was re-formed. [BW16:137; BW17:141, 142, 347] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Burundi
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland was formed. [BN No 598 January 1981 p14; BN no 608 November 1981 p10]
  • A member of that Assembly was John W Allen, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Swaziland. Mr Allen had served on National Assemblies since 1956 (Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa, then in 1967 the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique which, in 1978, became the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland. Mr Allen passed away on the 31st of August, 1981 while visiting the US. Mr Allen also served as an Auxiliary Board Member for Protection. He was among the first group appointed by the Guardian.
  • Note: In 1977 Angola and Mozambique were placed under the direct guidance of the Universal House of Justice. [BN no608 November 1981 p11]
    		• National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Auxiliary board members and assistants; Swaziland
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of Oman with its seat in Muscat was formed. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 24 March 1977] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Muscat; Oman
    1978 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of Qatar with its seat in Doha was formed. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 24 March 1977] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Doha; Qatar
    1978 Ridván The first local assembly in the British Virgin Islands was formed on Tortola. Local Spiritual Assembly; Tortola; British Virgin Islands first Local Spiritual Assembly in the British Virgin Islands
    1978 23 May The House of Worship in Wilmette was included in the register of historic places in the United States. [BW17:166, 375]
  • For picture see BW17:165.
    		• Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Architecture; Recognition (legal); Wilmette, IL; USA
    1978 Jul In Niger, an announcement was made on the national radio banning 'the Baha'ist sect and the Nineteen Day Feast' throughout the country; immediately, all Bahá'í administrative activities were suspended and the national spiritual assembly was dissolved. [BW17:147]
  • Mr Djoneidi was called into police-headquarters in Niger for questioning and was held for three days; then released unharmed. Other Bahá'ís were also called in.
    		•  Persecution, Niger; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Niger
    1978 5 Jul The passing of Ruth J. Ellis Moffet (b. 19 January 1880 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin). She was buried in Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa. Ruth Moffet has been described as a "champion teacher for of the Cause of God" and as being "instrumental in helping establish the Bahá'í Faith in the United States". Her travels took her through Europe, the Near East, Asia, Egypt and Canada as well as the United States. [BW17p463]

    Publications:

    • Do'a: On Wings of Prayer: First published in 1933, then in 1938 and 1953 as Do'a: The Call to Prayer. It was reprinted in 1974 and later in 1984. The book has been described as "A broad Bahá'í approach to prayer and mediation of 'the practice of the presence of the Spirit of God', using quotations from the Bahá'í Faith and other religions." [BELp105] Her formula, which has become known as the "Five Steps of Prayer", and was printed in Principles of Bahá'í Administration published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles in 1953 and was cited by the Universal House of Justice in its message of the 11 October 1978.
    • New Keys to the Book of Revelation: Published in New Delhi in 1977 and reprinted in 1989. [Collins p105] It contains a chronology of the events in the Holy Land.
    • A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Published in Honolulu 1980. This was also entitled Visting the Bahá'i World Centre. It consisted of notes from her pilgrimage May 17 - September 17, 1954. [Collins p105]
    • The Cause of the Rise and Fall of Civilizations: This was a chart that she produced after her pilgrimage. It is her own interpretation of history.
    • Her essay, The Dynamics of Prayer was published in SoW Vol 21 Issue 2 p47 in May 1930. A 'cleaner' PDF is available here.
  • See Bahaipedia for a detailed biography.
  • Find a grave.
    		• Ruth Moffett; In Memoriam; Prayer, Five Steps of; Prayer; Eau Claire, WI; Des Moines, IA
    1978 Aug An International Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, attended by some 380 Bahá'ís from 19 countries. [BW17:150, 153] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Youth; Youth; Yaounde; Cameroon; Africa
    1978 14 - 26 Aug The Bahá'í International Community participated in the first World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and sent a delegation of African, European, and Asian backgrounds to participate. A major focus on the conference was South Africa's apartheid policies of racial segregation and discrimination. [BIC History 1978]
  • See the declaration submitted by the Bahá'í International Community.
  • See the resolutions adopted.
  • Declaration and Programme of Action
    		•  Bahá'í International Community; Racism; United Nations; - BIC statements; Geneva, Switzerland
    1978 14 - 25 Aug The first World Conference Against Racism was held in Geneva, Switzerland. A major focus on the conference was South Africa's apartheid policies of racial segregation and discrimination.
  • UN website
    		•  United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; UNESCO; Racism; Discrimination; Geneva, Switzerland
    1978 30 Sep - 1 Oct The Bahá'í Studies Seminar on Ethics and Methodology was held in Cambridge, UK.
  • See the Message from the Universal House of Justice addressed to the participants.
    		• Bahá'í studies; Ethics and Methodology; Cambridge, England
    1978 Oct Three hundred Bahá'í homes near Shíráz were burned or destroyed and in another 200 homes the Bahá'ís were driven from them, property was stolen and many Bahá'ís were beaten. [BW17:79; BW19:42]
  • At one point 700 Bahá'ís were homeless and their means of livelihood destroyed. [BW17:79; BN136 April 1979 p2-3]
    		• Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution, Destruction; - Persecution; Shíráz, Iran; Iran
    1978 Oct - Nov Mobs destroyed the Hazíratu'l-Quds in Mihán-du-´Ab followed by the burning or looting of 80 homes and the murder of two believers, a father and son who bodies were dragged through the streets, cut into pieces and consigned to the flames. Throughout the country the hostility towards the Bahá'ís resulted in 4 deaths, the loss of millions in property and the displacement of some 700 people.
  • The National Spiritual Assembly of Iran instituted a special fund for relief of the needy and suffering. [BN 136 April 1979 p2-3]
    		•  - Persecution; Funds; Funds, relief; Mihán-du-`Ab, Iran; Azerbaijan; Iran
    1978 7 Nov The murder of Major-General Ali Mohammad Khademi (b. 16 December, 1913 in Jahrom, Fars.) After a brilliant career in the military he became head of Iran's national airline. In 16 years he transformed it into a world-class airline with international connections.
    General Khademi was killed in his home. Despite witness accounts by his wife and the soldiers assigned to his home, the government controlled media called his murder a "suicide", although several international media outlets, such as the New York Times, reported on his murder. Among Iranian Bahá'ís, General Khademi held the highest ranking leadership post in a public institution. His religious affiliation, which was not a secret, was the cause of fierce opposition by a number of Muslim clergy.
    An investigation into his murder named three members of "the joint anti-terror committee", one of whom was identified at the Military Command by Bahiyyih Moayyed as the shooter of her husband. Despite these individuals' identification and arrest by the Military Command, none was tried or punished. Later on, The National Security and Intelligence Agency (SAVAK) detained Bahiyyih Moayyed for about one month to force her to declare that her husband had committed suicide. She refused. [Wikipedia; Iran Press Watch 19724; Iran News]    		 `Alí Mohammad Khademi; Bahiyyih Moayyed; - Persecution; In Memoriam; Tehran, Iran; Iran
    1978 Dec The first Bahá'í Winter School of Malta took place. [BW17:192] First summer and winter schools; Malta first Bahá’í Winter School of Malta
    1978 Dec Bahá'í homes in Andarún, Iran, were besieged; one Bahá'í was badly beaten. [BW18:275–6] Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Andarún, Iran; Iran
    1978 15 Dec A cabled message was sent to 93 national spiritual assemblies stating that the Bahá'ís in Iran and the Holy Places in Tihrán and Shíráz were in peril. [BW17:79] Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; NSA; Iran
    1978 16 - 19 Dec More than 560 Bahá'ís from 14 countries throughout Malaysia gathered for the South East Asia Bahá'í Regional Conference. [BN136 April 1979] - Conferences; South East Asia Bahá'í Regional Conference; Kuching; Sarawak, Malaysia; Malaysia
    1978 23 Dec Helmut Winkelbach, a German Bahá'í, arrived in Bobrujsk, in what was then called the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [Ela-D Committee of Germany Records; BW95-96p48] Helmut Winkelbach; Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Bobrujsk, Belarus; Belarus
    1978 28 – 30 Dec The West African Bahá'í Women's Conference was held in Monrovia, Liberia with the theme, "Spiritual Education of Women-The Foundation of a New Human Society". [BW17:154]
  • Delegates from sixteen countries attended. It was attended by 150 women and 50 men. Keynote speaker was Dr. Jane Faily, Consultant to the Bahá'í International Community's representative to the United Nations and a clinical psychologist associated with the University of Ottawa. [BN 136 April, 1979 pg10-15]
    		•  Women; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Women; - Conferences, International; Jane Faily; Bahá'í International Community; Monrovia, Liberia; Liberia; Africa

    Try also a shorter date like 197

    try also the Chronology Canada — 1978 or 197

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