Chronology Canada: Date 1957

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith in Canada

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Date 1957, sorted by date, ascending

date	event	tags	firsts
1957 (In the year) 195-	The first Temple site was purchased in 1957 in North York, and replaced by the site in Markham Township in 1969. [MtC281]	Purchases and exchanges; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Toronto; Toronto, ON
1957 Jan 195-	The Laurentian Bahá'í Winter School was attended by about twenty people. Mary and Andy Andrews of Ottawa were the presenters. [CBN No 85 February 1957 p2]	Winter schools; Andy Andrews; Mary Andrews; Beaulac, QC
1957 2 Feb 195-	Dr Donald Kidd and Mary Campbell, both of Edmonton were married in a Bahá'í marriage ceremony in Calgary. It was the first Bahá'í wedding to take place in the province of Alberta. [CBN No87 April, 1957 p3]	Marriage; Don Kidd; Mary Campbell; Calgary, AB	the first Bahá'í wedding to take place in the province of Alberta.
1957 22 - 24 Feb 195-	At its February meeting the National Spiritual Assembly formed a Hazira Location Committee consisting of George Spendlove, George Smith, Alice Hall and Marjory Merrick. They were instructed to look for a property primarily for the National Headquarters use and to meet the requirement for a provisional Hazira set down by the Guardian. [CBN No 87 April, 1957 p1]	Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
1957 26 - 29 Apr 195-	The National Convention was held at the new Haziratu'l-Quds at 274 Huron Street. It was attended by about 100 visitors as well as seventeen delegates who voted in person and two who voted by mail. Those elected were: Hart Bowsfield, Peggy Ross, Winnifred Harvey, Audrey Westheuser, Allan Raynor, Lloyd Gardner, Rowland Estall, Fred Graham, and Harold Moscrop. The Public Congress was held in the Royal Ontario Museum Theatre. About 300 persons attended. [CBN No 89 June, 1957 p3-4] Photo. There were 17 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Canada at this point, a drop from 19 two years earlier. [Bloodworth, Grains of Wheat p20]	National Convention; Hart Bowsfield; Peggy Ross; Winnifred Harvey; Audrey Westheuser; Allan Raynor; Lloyd Gardner; Rowland Estall; Fred Graham; Harold Moscrop; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
1957 May 195-	The site of the National Hazírratu'l-Quds at 274 Huron Street was expropriated by the University of Toronto. The property was included in the 26 acres taken over in December for the expansion of the campus. The University advised that they will not require the property for some time and that we may rent the building , possibly for several years. [UC66; CBN No 87 April 1957 p3; CBN No 91 Aug 1957 p8; MtC262] An Hazira Location Committee was set up consisting of George Spendlove, George Smith, Alice Hall and Marjory Merrick. [CBN No 87 April 1957 p1]	Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); George Spendlove; George Smith; Alice Hall; Marjory Merrick; Toronto, ON
1957 May 195-	About twenty-five different itineraries were arranged for Canadian Bahá'í teachers who served on the Intra-Regional circuits and, in addition, teaching programmes were arranged and organized for several visiting teachers from outside the Dominion, including Mr. Alan Pringle from Honduras and Mrs. Meherangiz Munsiff of the United States. Our Canadian teachers have included the following: Mrs. Laura Davis, Mr. Albert Rakovsky, Mr. Hartwell Bowsfield, Mr. Rowland Estall, Mr; Alan Raynor, Mre. !Peggy Ross, Mrs. Lily Ann Irwin, Mrs. Katherine Moscrop, Mr. Fred Graham, Miss Nancy Campbell, Miss Amy Putnam and Miss Winnifred Harvey. [CBN No88 May 1957 p1] Seven weekend seminars conducted by Allan Raynor on "The Covenant and the Individual" were organized throughout Canada for the deepening, strengthening and confirming of believers and close contacts. [CBN No88 May 1957 p2]	Travel Teaching; Alan Pringle; Meherangiz Munsiff; Laura Davis; Albert Rakovsky; Hartwell Bowsfield; Rowland Estall; Alan Raynor; Peggy Ross; Lily Ann Irwin; Katherine Moscrop; Fred Graham; Nancy Campbell; Amy Putnam; Winnifred Harvey
1957 May 195-	The New Territories Committee had a publication called the "Round Robin". It was written solely for pioneers in the goal areas as a means to share the pleasures and problems, hopes and fears, news and views with the distant members of their pioneer family. [CBN No88 May 1957 p2-3 ]	Round Robin; * Publications; Pioneering
1957 14 Jun 195-	Winnifred Harvey of Ottawa, recently returned from pilgrimage, undertook a three week travel leaching trip to Western Canada. She stopped at Winnipeg, Brandon then on to Regina and following that, Lethbridge and Calgary. In British Columbia she visited Cranbrook, Penticton, Vancouver and West Vancouver then took a ferry to Nanaimo and then overland to Victoria. From there she travelled south to Seattle to catch a plane for Juneau and then the Canadian goal city of Baranof by seaplane. Venturing back into Canada her next stop was Whitehorse and then on to Edmonton and Yellowknife and Edmonton again. Saskatoon was the next stop then to St. James and finally to Toronto to attend a meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly. [CBN No 92 September 1957 p 3-4]	Travel Teaching; Winnifred Harvey
1957 Jul 195-	Hand of the Cause Dhikru'llah Khádem met with the National Spiritual Assembly. He had come from Central America and was visiting in the United States and Canada before returning to Haifa. He, his wife, and their daughter spent ten days in Canada and visited the friends in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and London. [UC68-69]	- Hands of the Cause; Dhikrullah Khadem; Hamilton, ON; Toronto, ON; Montreal, QC; Ottawa, ON; London, ON
1957 Summer 195-	Pioneer Doris Richardson reported that the first Bahá'í declaration on Grand Manan, Ed Somers, was welcomed. [UC70]	Doris Richardson; Ed Somers; Grand Manan Island, NB	first declarant on Grand Manan Island.
1957 Jul 195-	Hand of the Cause Dhikru'llah Khádem met with the National Spiritual Assembly. He had come from Central America and was visiting in the United States and Canada before returning to Haifa. He, his wife, and their daughter spent ten days in Canada and visited the friends in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and London. [UC68-69, 70; MtC269]	Hands of the Cause, Activities; Dhikrullah Khadem; Hamilton, ON; Toronto, ON; Montreal, QC; Ottawa, ON; London, ON
1957 (Summer) 195-	Hand of the Cause Zikr'u'lláh Khadem visited Central America, then the United States and Canada on way back to Haifa. He was accompanied by his wife and their daughter. Arrangements were made for them to visit a number of Bahá'í communities in Ontario and Québec, Hamilton, Greater Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, London. [CBN NO 92 September 1957 p4]	- Hands of the Cause; Zikrullah Khadem
1957 (Summer) 195-	The Hazira committee continued to have difficulties in finding a suitable property. Zoning regulations precluded the purchase of many sites that were otherwise suitable. Negotiation were underway on one property. One property in north Toronto that might be suitable for the Temple ground was under investigation. [CBN No 91 August 1957 p1]	Hazira and Temple Grounds Committee; Toronto, ON
1957 Aug 195-	In response to a recommendation made at the National Convention, the functions and the staffing of the national committees were published in the August issue of the Canadian Bahá'í News. [CBN #91 August 1957 p6-8] The October issue included a graphic that illustrated the reporting structure of the national committees. [CBN No 93 October 1957 p7]	National Spiritual Assembly; Toronto, ON
1957 Summer 195-	The Laurentian Summer School was held at Beaulac. The presenters were Margery McCormick, Mehdi Firoozi and Stanwood Cobb. [CBN NO92 September 1957 p4; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p3] It was described as the most successful Conference held at Beaulac with over 80 Bahá'ís and friends in attendance.	Summer schools; Margery McCormick; Mehdi Firoozi; Stanwood Cobb; Beaulac, QC
1957 25 - 31 Aug 195-	Western Canada Summer Conference at the Banff School of Fine Arts. The syllabus included (1) "The Covenant and the Aims, Purposes and Processes of the Administrative Order" (Allan Raynor) (2) "The History of the Faith" (Ted Anderson and Hartwell Bowsfield) (3) "The Fundamental Spiritual Verities" (Florence Mayberry) and "The Bahá'í World Crusade" (Beatrice Ashton). [CBN No 88 May 1957 p3] About 84 Bahá'ís and their friends were in attendance. [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p5]	Western Canada Summer Conference; Summer schools
1957 Oct or Nov 195-	At the request of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Department of External Affairs arranged for the British Legation in Sofia, Bulgaria to have a monument erected over the grave of Marion Jack in the British Cemetery. A photo of the grave and Shoghi Effendi's tribute of 29 March, 1954 were printed in the Canadian Bahá'í News. [CBN No 96 January 1958 p5]	Marion Jack; - In Memoriam; Sofia, Bulgaria
1957 Oct 195-	In a message to the National Spiritual Assembly the Guardian said of the Canadians believers: "The fortuitous combination of British solidity and good judgement and American get-up-and-go and enthusiasm, which has characterized Canada, must not be lost in the Canadian Bahá'í Community. Its members must demonstrate their out-standing abilities, and through a greater vision, more consecration and renewed self-sacrifice, arise and attain their goals." [CBN NO 92 Oct 1957 p1-2]
1957 Oct 195-	The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States advised the friends in Canada, particularly local assemblies, to take no steps towards accepting the credentials of any person from Iran who claims to be a Bahá'í, without first communicating with the National Assembly. "Should any individual from Iran, either carring credentials or claiming to be a Bahá'í, appear in your community the matter should be reported immediately to the National Office where the authorizing signature and letter-head from the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran has been registered. It is most important that this procedure be followed with exception, with respect to all individuals from Iran making an appearance in any Bahá'í community." [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p2]
1957 Oct 195-	Acting on a recommendation from the National Convention, the National Spiritual Assembly published an organogram which showed three "departments", Teaching, Properties and Service with sub-committees reporting to them. [CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p7]	National Spiritual Assembly; Toronto, ON
1957 1 Oct 195-	A site at 15 Lola Road in Toronto was acquired and occupied on the 1st of October. It served as the National Hazíratu'l-Quds from October 1957 until 1969. [MtC281; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p2] See [MtC198-199] for a photo.	Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
1957 2 Nov 195-	Hand of the Cause Paul Haney visited the Toronto-Hamilton area and spoke at conferences in both cities and at a fireside in Hamilton. [CBN No 95 Dec 1957 p3]	- Hands of the Cause; Paul Haney; Toronto, ON; Hamilton, ON
1957 04 Nov - 04 Aug 195-	Following the directive from the Guardian following the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf in 1932, the National Spiritual Assembly called for a period of mourning of nine months in which all Festive Anniversaries were to be replaced by simple gatherings for prayers and administrative gatherings including the 19-Day Feasts were to be held with the utmost simplicity. [CBN No 97 February 1958 p1] For a number of messages of condolence and an account of the funeral of Shoghi Effendi see CBN No 95 Dec 1957 p5-8.	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of
1957 9 November 195-	The funeral for Shoghi Effendi was attended by Lloyd Gardner, Peggy Ross, Allan Raynor, Rowland Estall, Hartwell Bowsfield and Winnifred Harvey representing the Canadian Bahá'í community. Hand of the Cause John Robarts, living in Africa at the time, attended in his capacity as a Hand of the Cause. Jameson and Gale Bond also attended. [CBN No 95 December, 1957 Insert p4] Memorial services were held across Canada both on the day of the funeral and on November 18th as requested by Ruhiyyih Khanum. [CBN No 96 January, 1958 p6] Following the directive of the Hands of the Cause resident in the Holy Land, the National Spiritual Assembly asked the Canadian community to refrain from "all manner of religious festivity" for a period of nine months which began on the 4th of November and ended the 4th of August. The "festive anniversaries" that fell during this period were Intercalary Days, Naw-Rúz, the Feast of Ridván and the Declaration of the Báb. In making this request the Hands were following Shoghi Effendi's example on the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf in 1932. [CBN No 97 February, 1958 p1] See report by Winnifred Harvey.	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; London, England
1957 Dec 195-	The National Spiritual Assembly appointed a National Promulgation Committee with a mandate to bring the Bahá'i Faith to the attention of Christian clergy and laymen throughout Canada. The committee members were: Fred and Jean Graham, Douglas and Elizabeth Martin, David and Carol Bowie. Hamilton was chosen as the site for a pilot project. Every minister and priest received the pamphlet, "The Promised Day of God" and a letter with the National Spiritual Assembly letterhead outlining Bahá'u'lláh's claim to be the return of Christ. Every Protestant minister received a copy of the article by Marcs Bach from the Christian Century entitled, "Bahá'í, a Second Look" and every Catholic priest received a pamphlet with excerpts from Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the Pope. Archdeacons and Bishops and prominent Presbyterian and United ministers receive a copy of Christ and Bahá'u'lláh. In addition a letter was sent to the local Council of Churches or Ministerial Association outlining Bahá'u'lláh's claim and including a pamphlet and the Christian Century article and offering a speaker if they desired. On the weekend following the mailout, notices were placed in the newspaper on the church page informing people that their clergy had received the material and notice was given about a public meeting on Sunday with the subject "Christ and Bahá'u'lláh". Questionnaires were sent to every group in Ontario requesting information that would facilitate further plans. [CBN No 104 September 1958 p3-4]	Promulgation Campaign; Fred Graham; Jean Graham; Douglas Martin; Elizabeth Martin; David Bowie; Carol Bowie; Hamilton, ON
1957 6 Dec 195-	In a letter to the National Spiritual Assemblies the Hands of the Cause in America announced the appointment of Peggy Ross as the Auxiliary Board Member for Propagation (Teaching). Rowland Estall, who had served as the ABM in the Eastern part of Canada for several years was reassigned as the Auxiliary Board Member for Protection. [CBN No 97 February, 1958 p4]	Auxiliary board members; Peggy Ross; Rowland Estall


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