Corinne True travelled to `Akká to present `Abdu'l-Bahá with a scroll with the signatures of 800 (or 1,000) names of Bahá'ís calling for construction to start on the American House of Worship. [CT51–3]
• BW13:847 says the petition contained over a thousand signatures.
• Some four years earlier the Bahá'ís had asked permission to build a House of Worship in Chicago. He agreed but the project sat idle. 'Abdu'l-Bahá provided her with complete instructions. Corrine True would later server as financial secretary of the Executive Board of the Mother Temple of the West. For her role in the project Àbdu'l-Bahá called her the "Mother of the Temple." [239 Days (22)]
• See PG108-109 for the story of the sacrifices on the part of poor villagers in rural Iran so that they could make contributions to the Temple Fund.
• See Petition by the American Baha'is.

The first national Bahá'í conference was held in America. [BFA2:XVI; BW10:179]
• At the invitation of the House of Spirituality of Chicago, nine Bahá'ís from various communities joined some ten from the Chicago area at a one-day conference to foster national cooperation on the Temple project and to choose a suitable site for the Temple. [BFA2:280; CT78; GPB262, 349]
• M. Momen posits that this was probably the first Bahá'í convention. [BAHAISM xi. Bahai Conventions]

On the same day as the interment of the sacred remains of the Báb on Mount Carmel the first American Bahá'í Convention opened in Chicago. [BFA2:XVII, 309; BW13:849; MBW142–3; SBBH1:146]
• It was held in the home of Corinne True. [CT82–3]
• It was attended by 39 delegates from 36 cities. [GPB262; SBBH1:146]
• The Convention established the 'Bahá'í Temple Unity', incorporated to hold title to the Temple property and to provide for its construction. A constitution was framed and an Executive Board of the Bahá'í Temple Unity elected. This body became the future National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada. [BBD39; BBRSM:106; BW10:179; GPB349; PP397; SBBH1:146] iiiii

The Second Annual Convention of the Bahá'í Temple Unity was held in Corinthian Hall, 17th Floor of the Masonic Temple at State and Randolph Streets.
• Honoré Jaxon presented a report on his negotiations for the purchase of land for the Temple site. [BN Vol 1 Issue 4 17 May 1910 pg 19]
  • See SoW Vol 3 No 4 p5 for Dedication of the Mashrak-el-Azkar Site (Illustrated)—By Honoré J. Jaxon.
• See A Bit of Extraneous Matter: The 1910 Bahai Temple Unity Convention and the Downfall of Henry Clayton Thompson by Jackson Armstrong_Ingram where a member tries to make a claim for leadership. [SBBR14p129]
• See the official report by Joseph Hannen in SoW Vol 2 No 4 p3.

`Abdu'l-Bahá laid the cornerstone of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette. [SYH67-68, CT102; 239D:51; AB186; GPB288, 349; MBW143; Luminous Journey 47:00]
• Talk at Dedication of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár Grounds. [PUP71]
• The cornerstone had been offered by Mrs Nettie Tobin, a member of the Women's Teaching Assembly. [AB186]
• See SYH65-66 for the story of how the Foundation Stone made it to the building site.
• `Abdu'l-Bahá asked delegates from the various Bahá'í communities and Bahá'ís from different backgrounds each to dig the earth to lay the stone. Corrine True, Lua Getsinger and several other women turned the sod. After the stone had been laid 'Abdu'l-Bahá declared that "The temple is already built." [AB186–7; Luminous Journey 47:00]

Louis Bourgeois was selected as the architect for the Chicago House of Worship. [DP94; GPB303; SBBH1:145]
• For details of the designs and selection process see DP76-100.
• See CT159 for the source of inspiration for the design.
• See FMH75-76 for details of a visit by Willard and Doris McKay to his home. He reported that "the inspiration for the Temple was from another realm and that he had been conscious, from the beginning, that Bahá'ulláh was the creator of the building."

Boring began at the site of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette to determine the depth of the bedrock. [DP104]
• Soon afterwards construction began. [DP108]

Construction began on the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette. DP108]
• See DP107 for a picture of Bahá'ís inaugurating the construction of Foundation Hall.
• Note: The Bahá'í Faith 1844-1952 Information Statistical & Comparative p.5 says construction commenced in December 1920.

To the United States and Canada Shoghi Effendi sent a message to transform the 'Executive Board' into a legislative institution. [CB293; CT160; ER211-12; PP56]
• It had been functioning since 1909 concerned mostly with the construction of the Bahá'í House of Worship.
• This year the elected members of the Executive Board Bahá'í Temple Unity were: Mountfort Mills. Annie L. Parmerton. Bernard M. Jacobsen. Arthur S. Agnew. Corinne True. William H. Hoar. Joseph H. Hannen. Roy C. Wilhelm.
• He addressed his first letter to this body as the "National Spiritual Assembly of the United States" on December 23rd however in God Passes By pg333 he stated that the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States was not formed until 1925. [SETPE1p107, CT160, CoB293]

Bahá'ís gathered in the Foundation Hall of the Chicago House of Worship for the first time, to commemorate the martyrdom of the Báb. [CT158-9; SW13, 6:132]
• Regular meetings were not held here until 1927. [CT158-9]

The National Convention of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada was held in the Foundation Hall of the House of Worship for the first time. [BW2:180; CT167; BN No 24 June 1928]
• Elected were Allen Mc Daniel (chair), Alfred Lunt (vice-chair), Horace Holley (secretary), Carl Scheffler (treasurer), Roy Wilhelm, May Maxwell, Louis Gregory, Amelia Collins, and Nellie French. [USBN No 26 September, 1928]
• See BW2:180 for a picture.
• See FMH53-54]

In December of 1925 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of United States and Canada adopted the "Unified Plan of Action" and among the resolutions was to raise some $400,000 over the following three years to construct the first unit of the superstructure of the Temple. By the end of 1926 only $51,000 had been collected and the following year was just as disappointing. At the National Convention in 1928 Fred Schopflocher's donation of $25,000 inspired contributions and the Fund rose to about $87,000 by March 1929. On this day Fred and Lorol Schopflocher contributed a further $100,000. [LoF388-389, SETPE1p162-163]
• See May 1937 for another contribution of $100,000 from the Schopflochers.

"Soon. shipping silken carpet from Baha'u'llah's Shrine as crowning gift on altar of Bahá'í sacrifice."--Cablegram, April 28, 1929.

"Moved by an impulse that I could not resist, I have felt impelled to forego what may be regarded as the most valuable and sacred possession in the Holy Land for the furthering of that noble enterprise which you have set your hearts to achieve. With the hearty concurrence of our dear Bahá'í brother, Ziaoullah Asgarzadeh, who years ago donated it to the Most Holy Shrine, this precious ornament of the Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh has been already shipped to your shores, with our fondest hope that the proceeds from its sale may at once ennoble and reinforce the unnumbered offerings of the American believers already accumulated on the altar of Bahá'í sacrifice." Letter, October 25, 1929.

"Shoghi Effendi informs you that the rug can be offered for sale among Baha'is and nonBahá'í alike."-Soheil A/nan, December 12, 1929. [BN No 38 February 1930 insert]

A ceremony was held at the American annual convention in dedication of the resumption of the building activities on the Wilmette Temple. [BBRSM183; BW3:47]
• Shoghi Effendi's gift to the Temple was 'the most valuable sacred possession in the Holy Land' a 'precious ornament of the Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh', an exquisite Persian carpet. [BA180–1; BW4:208–12]
• The carpet, one of the most exquisite pieces ever woven in Persia, was made in Khurásán in about 1900-1905. It had been donated to by Díyá'ulláh Asgharzádih as a gift to Àbdu'l-Bahá Who immediately placed it in the Shrine of Bahjí. [BW4p208-210]

He, like Sutherland Maxwell and Mason Remey, had studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. These three and four others submitted designs for the Wilmette Temple for consideration. Other buildings designed by Louis Bourgeois include the Chicago Tribune Building, Evergreen Cabin in Englewood NJ where 'Abdu'l-Bahá hosted a Unity Feast, the Savoy Hotel in Chicago.

He became a Bahá'í in New York sometime during the winter of 1906. In April of 1909 the National Spiritual Assembly called for design proposals for the first Bahá'í Hours of Worship in the West and he submitted is design proposal in October. It was finally accepted at the National Convention in 1920. [DP76-100]

Louis Jean-Baptiste Bourgeois, (19 March, 1856, Saint-Célestin, Quebec, Canada) designer of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette, passed away in that city. He was buried in East Lawn Memorial Park Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, USA [DP145; Find a grave]
• He had learned of the Faith in Boston through the efforts of Mary Hanford Ford. [Wikipedia]
• For details of his life see DP76–86.

Flames swept through the dome of Bahá'í House of Worship which was nearing completion. Debris including aluminum and glass for the dome from the clerestory fell near 100 feet to the main level. Damage was estimated at $50,000. The loss due to the fire was covered by insurance and as a "blessing in disguise" because the Faith receive a great deal of publicity as a result of the incident. [Tribune Archive Photo / Chicago Tribune, Sept. 18, 2014]
• See the report in BN No 48 February 1931 p5.

The First Seven Year Plan (1937-1944) was launched in North America. [BBD180; BBRSM158; BW7:17–18; MA9, 11-12, 87]
• The Guardian's Seven Year Plan for the American Bahá'ís
• For the role of individuals, local spiritual assemblies and the National Spiritual Assembly see MA11–12.
• The Plan called for:
  • the completion of the exterior of the Wilmette Temple. BW7:17–18; PP385]
  • the establishment of a local spiritual assembly in each state and province of the United States and Canada. [PP385]
  • the establishment of a centre in each of the republics of Latin America. [PP385; The Spiritual Conquest of the Planet (Supplement)p2]

    This date, the inception of the First Seven Year Plan of the North American Bahá'í community, marked the opening of the First Epoch of the Divine Plan. This epoch concluded with the successful completion of the Ten Year Crusade in 1963. [Epochs of the Formative Age by Research Department of the Universal House of Justice]

He, like Sutherland Maxwell and Mason Remey, had studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. These three and four others submitted designs for the Wilmette Temple for consideration. Other buildings designed by Louis Bourgeois include the Chicago Tribune Building, Evergreen Cabin in Englewood NJ where 'Abdu'l-Bahá hosted a Unity Feast, the Savoy Hotel in Chicago.

He became a Bahá'í in New York sometime during the winter of 1906. In April of 1909 the National Spiritual Assembly called for design proposals for the first Bahá'í Hours of Worship in the West and he submitted is design proposal in October. It was finally accepted at the National Convention in 1920. [DP76-100]

An international celebration of the Centenary of the founding of the Faith was held at the House of Worship in Wilmette.
• For a description of this event see BW10:158–61.
• For the programme see BW10:162–70.
• For a list of the countries participating in the conference see BW10:168.
• This event was attended by a number of Canadian Bahá'ís. iiiii

  CANADIAN BAHÁ'Í WHO SIGNED THE 1944 CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION REGISTER

  Note: The Register had been made by Charles Mason Remey. Approximately 941-971 Bahá'ís signed the Register out of the 1,484 Bahá'ís who registered for the 1944 Centennial Commemoration in Wilmette and Chicago, IL. Most Bahá'ís signed their name and put their city and state, province or country.

  1. Charles N. Murray, Ottawa, Canada
  2. Madeleine Humbert, Halifax, N.S.
  3. Audrey Robarts, Toronto, Canada
  4. Beulah S. Proctor, Halifax, N.S.
  5. Doris Richardson, Toronto, Canada
  6. Laura Romney Davis, Toronto
  7. Ethel A. Priestly, Toronto
  8. Rena Millie Gordon, Regina, Sask.
  9. Siegfried Schopflocher, Montreal
  10. Theresa Lillywhite, Regina, Sask.
  11. Lotus Peterson, Regina, Sask.
  12. Florence H. Cox, Regina, Sask.
  13. Edna Colpitts, Moncton, New Brunswick
  14. Anna A. McGee, Edmonton, Alta.
  15. Emeric Sala, St. Lambert, Canada
  16. John A. Robarts, Toronto, Canada
  17. Helen Giddin, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
  18. Anita Ioas, Edmonton, Alberta
  19. Winnifred Harvey, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  20. Annie B. Romer, Halifax, N.S., Canada
  21. I.J. Fox, Vancouver, B.C.
  22. Zara B. Phonic, Regina, Sask. [spelling of last name uncertain]
  23. Edna M. Hollaway, Charlottetown, PEI
  24. Muriel Hutchings, Halifax, N.S.
  25. Jean Mosher, St. Lambert, Quebec
  26. Maiaret Laurie (Spelling?), St. Lambert, Quebec
  27. Rowland Estall, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  28. Doris McKay, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
  29. Jean Johnston, Winnipeg, Manitoba

  List prepared from the 1944 Centennial Commemoration Register by Roger M. Dahl, National Bahá'í Archives, United States, June 24, 2021. Some of the handwriting was difficult to read so some of the names or addresses may be misspelled.

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]