| date |
event |
tags |
firsts |
| 1953 (Summer) |
First Bahá'í w@ddmg in London was solemnized between Dorothy Boys and Bob Smith, the Secretary and Chairman of London Assembly.
Friends attended from Toronto, Hamilton and Forest. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p5] |
Marriage; Dorothy Boys; Bob Smith; London, ON |
first Bahá'í wedding in |
| 1953 c. Jul |
Emmanuel Rock, the first to fill a Canadian post overseas, found employment on a short termcontract as Assistant Audit Officer for the Samoan Government. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p2]
The Winnipeg Assembly has adopted Emmanuel
Rock in Samoa. [CBN No47 December 1953 p1] |
Pioneer; Emmanuel Rock; Samoa |
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| 1953 10 Jul |
The accidental death of Eddie Elliot, the first African-Canadian Bahá'í. He was a hydro-line worker and met his death while working on a high-voltage transformer. [CBN No 45 October, 1953 p4]
He had grown up in the same household as Mary Maxwell because his mother was employed as a maid and lived in the house.
He was a long-time member of the Local Spiritual Assembly and was often called upon to chair. He also maintained his membership in a Christian Church and came to the Faith through Rev Este's church, the Union United Church, the only African Canadian church in Montreal. [OBBC91-92]
Only a few months previous to his passing the Guardian had invited him to Haifa and then he continued on to attend the African Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Kampala in February, 1953 as a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly. [CBN No 43Aug 1953 p2; BN No 267 May 1953 p5-7; CBN No 45 October, 1953 p4]
Eddie Elliot is considered the first Black Canadian Bahá'í. [MC2p184]
|
In Memoriam; Eddie Elliot; Montreal, QC |
first Black Canadian Baha'i |
| 1953 14 Jul |
Gale Keass and Jameson Bond were married in the Maxwell home, the first marriage to be performed there since it was declared a Shrine. [UC43] |
Gale Keass; Jameson Bond; Marriage; Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC |
first marriage in the Shrine. |
| 1953 27 Jul |
Siegfried (Fred) Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Montreal and was buried beside the grave of Sutherland Maxwell in Mount Royal Cemetery at the Guardian's suggestion. He was born in Germany in 1877. [BW12:664-666, LOF390, TG119, CBNS 24 July 2014, Bahá'í Chronicles, SCRIBD, Schopflocher, Siegfried (1877–1953) by Will C. van den Hoonaard; CBN No 43 August 1953 p4; CBN No 44 September 1953 p2; MtC185-187]
Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii]
See TG32, 228 and LoF384-390 for short biographies.
See Schopflocher, Siegfried by Will C. van den Hoonaard.
For his obituary see BW12:664–6.
He was known as the "Chief Temple Builder" because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West. [BW12:664-666]
He made significant contributions to Green Acre both financially and administratively.
During the period 1924 to 1947 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada fifteen times. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada from its formation until his passing.
He was instrumental in the purchase of the first property for the Haziratu'l Quds.
For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles.
Find a grave.
His funeral was held on the 31st of July presided by the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly John Robarts. The eulogy was delivered by the vice-chair, Rowland Estall. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p7-10]
On August 23, the Montreal Assembly arranged a memorial
service in the Maxwell Home which was attended by members
of the National Assembly and friends, mainly from the
Montreal area. This service in Fred's home community was
intimate and personal. Many people recalled with loving
gratitude personal associations with Fred, kindly and helpful
things he had done in his unobtrusive way, gifts of hospitality
or consideration that they had treasured sometimes for many
years. [CBN No 46 November 1953 Insert]
A memorial service was held in the Temple in Wilmette on the 28th of August. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p3] |
Siegfried Schopflocher; - Hands of the Cause; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Montreal, QC |
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