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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith in Canada

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Date 1957-1, descending — sort earliest first

date event tags firsts
1957 6 Dec 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
1957 Dec 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 9 November 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 04 Nov - 04 Aug 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 2 Nov 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 1 Oct 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 Oct 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 Oct 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 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 or Nov 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

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