1910: Delegates and friends at Chicago Temple grounds

Delegates and friends assembled at the geometrical center of the temple grounds and invoking the Greatest Name as their faces are turned towards Akka.

The Cause of God entered a new epoch in October 1963 – “the third of the Formative Age”

Beloved friends, the Cause of God, guarded and nurtured since its inception by God's Messengers, by the Centre of His Covenant and by His Sign on earth, now enters a new epoch, the third of the Formative Age. It must now grow rapidly in size, increase its spiritual cohesion and executive ability, develop its institutions and extend its influence into all strata of society. We, its members, must, by constant study of the life- giving Word, and by dedicated service, deepen in spiritual understanding and show to the world a mature, responsible, fundamentally assured and happy way of life, far removed from the passions, prejudices and distractions of present day society. Relying upon God alone, we can promote His Cause and establish His Kingdom on earth. Only thus can we prove our love for Those Who brought this new day into being. Only thus can we prove the truth of Their Divine Mission and demonstrate how valid was Their Sacrifice.

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a message dated October 1963; ‘The Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)

Believers identified by the Guardian as the Disciples of Abdu'l-Baha -- "Heralds of the Covenant"

1. Dr. J.E.Esslemont: distinguished Baha'i author

2. Mr. Thornton Chase: "first Baha'i in America"

3. Mr. Howard MacNutt: noted Baha'i teacher

4. Miss Sarah Farmer:Founder of Green Acre

5. Monsieur Hippolyte Drefus-Barney: author, translator, and international promoter of the Faith

6. Miss Lillian Kappers: noted teacher of the Tarbiyat school, Tihran, Persia

7. Mr. Robert Turner: first Baha'i of the Negro race in America

8. Dr. Arthur Brauns: pioneer worker for the Faith in Germany

9. Mr. W.H. Randall: eloquent upholder of the Baha'i Cause in America

10. Mrs Lua M. Gestinger: renowned and devoted international Baha'i teacher

11. Mr. Joseph Hannan: indefatigable servant of the Cause

12. Mr. C.I. Thacher: zealous Baha'i worker

13. Mr. Ch. Greenleaf: firm supporter of the Faith

14. Mrs. J.D. Brittingham: trusted and energetic sower of the Seed

15. Mrs. Thornburgh: a pioneer of the Fith in England

16. Mrs. Helen S. Goodall: ardent establisher of the Cause in America

17. Mr. Arthur P. Dodge: staunch advocate of the Cause

18. Mr. William H. Hoar: prominent Baha'i teacher

19. Dr. J.G. Augur: pioneer of the Faith in the Pacific islands

(The Baha'i World 1928-1930)

There were 9 National Spiritual Assemblies as of 1925

*NSA of the Baha’is of Persia

* NSA of the United States and Canada

* NSA of the Baha'is of Germany

* NSA of the Baha’is of Great Britain and Ireland

* NSA of the Baha’is of India and Burma

* NSA of the Baha’is of Egypt

* NSA of the Baha’is of Turkistan

* NSA of the Baha’is of Caucasus

* NSA of the Baha’is of Iraq

(Baha’i Year Book 1925-1926)

How November 26th became known as the ‘Day of the Covenant’

The believers in the West, at the time of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, wanted to commemorate His birthday that took place on the same day that the Bab declared His Mission. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, however, didn’t approve of this and told them that this day was not, under any circumstances, to be celebrated as His day of birth and that it should be exclusively associated with the Bab. But as the Bahá'ís begged for a day to be celebrated as His, He gave them November 26th, to be observed as the day of the appointment of the Centre of the Covenant. It was known as Jashn-i-A'zam (The Greatest Festival), because He was Ghusn-i-A'zam -- the Greatest Branch. In the West it is known as the Day of the Covenant.

(Adapted from the book, ‘The Centre of the Covenant’ by Hand of the Cause Balyuzi)

Hands of the Cause were authorized by the Guardian to appointment Auxiliary Board Members

In October 1957 Shoghi Effendi implemented this duty to safeguard the Faith, shortly before his passing, by creating an additional Auxiliary Board, whose function was to be, under the direct guidance of the Hands of the Cause, "watching over the security of the Faith". He had already stated, only five months before he passed away, in a general communication addressed to both the Hands and the National Spiritual Assemblies, that the divinely appointed Institution of the Hands of the Faith was entering a new phase in the unfoldment of "its sacred mission", and that to their other functions was now added the "primary obligation" to watch over and ensure the protection of the Bahá'í World Community "in close collaboration" with the National Assemblies.

('The Ministry of the Custodians, 1957-1963')

'Abdu'l-Baha's initial impression of New York upon His arrival in 1912

I am greatly pleased with the city of New York. Its harbor entrance, its piers, buildings and broad avenues are magnificent and beautiful. Truly, it is a wonderful city. As New York has made such progress in material civilization, I hope that it may also advance spiritually in the Kingdom and Covenant of God so that the friends here may become the cause of the illumination of America, that this city may become the city of love and that the fragrances of God may be spread from this place to all parts of the world.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (From a talk, 11 April 1912 at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinney, New York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)

Baha'u'llah's Lineage

He [Baha'u'llah] derived His descent, on the one hand, from Abraham (the Father of the Faithful) through his wife Katurah, and on the other from Zoroaster, as well as from Yazdigird, the last king of the Sasaniyan dynasty. He was moreover a descendant of Jesse [1], and belonged, through His father, Mirza Abbas, better known as Mirza Buzurg -- a nobleman closely associated with the ministerial circles of the Court of Fath-'Ali Shah -- to one of the most ancient and renowned families of Mazindaran.

- Shoghi Effendi  ('God Passes By')

[1] This is not Jesse the father of David, but Jesse referred to in Isaiah 11:1,10 – (David Hofman in ‘Baha'u'llah the Prince of Peace’)

1910: Some believers in America

Some believers in America in 1910:

1. Dr. Augur; 2. Mrs. Augur's maid; 3. Mrs. Coombs; 4. Miss Fletcher of NY City; 5. Mr. Remey; 6. Mrs. Sutherland; 7. Mrs. Rowland; 8. Mr. Struven; 9. Mrs. Augur; 10. Agnes Alexander; 11. Miss Johnson; 12. Virginia Rowland

The Guardian’s last absence from Haifa

On October 20th, 1957, the beloved Guardian arrived in London, accompanied by Ruhiyyih Khanum, for the purpose of ordering some furniture and objects for the interior of the International Archives Building and the Gardens above it. He chose London because it is an international centre where objects from every country can be found at much cheaper prices than probably in any other one city of the world. He planned to remain a few days and then proceed to Haifa. As was the invariable custom of the beloved Guardian during his absence from Haifa, no contact was made with any Bahá'í. Ruhiyyih Khanum attended to his mail and carried out his orders as she always did.

- Ruhiyyih Khanum  ('The Passing of Shoghi Effendi')

Baha’u’llah’s Parents

The noble families of the Nur district, including Baha’u’llah’s family, had for generations provided the kings of Iran with well-educated government officials: civil servants who would collect taxes, keep accounts, pay the army and generally administer the government. Bahalu’llah’s father, Mirza Buzurg Nuri, rose in the ranks of these civil servants to become the minister to a royal prince who was the commander of the royal guards. He was later a vizier (minister), an official responsible for the collection of taxes, in a province. He was given the village of Takur in the Nur region in lieu of salary and he built a fine mansion there by the side of the Nur river as a family home. … Baha’u’llah’s father was also renowned as a calligrapher. Indeed, his real name was ‘Abbas and he had been given the designation Buzurg (meaning “great”) by the king because of his calligraphic prowess. Read more…

- Moojan Momen  ('Baha’u’llah: A Short Biography')

Baha’u’llah’s last outstanding Tablet

We are told by the beloved Guardian that the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is "the last outstanding Tablet revealed by the Pen of Bahá'u'lláh." (Shoghi Effendi, ‘God Passes By’)

Shoghi Effendi gave the western believers his fifth and last book of translations of the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, undertaken during the winter of 1939-40 … ‘The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’ was Bahá'u'lláh's last major work and contains a selection from His own Writings made by Himself (surely a unique occurrence in religious history!) during the last two years of His life and has therefore a special position of its own in the literature of our Faith. In a cable shortly prior to its publication Shoghi Effendi said "Devoutly hope its study may contribute further enlightenment deeper understanding verities on which effective prosecution teaching administrative undertakings ultimately depend..." 

- Ruhiyyih Khanum  (‘The Priceless Pearl’)

There are Three Versions of the Torah – ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains

…the Torah, held to be the most ancient of histories, existeth today in three separate versions: the Hebrew, considered authentic by the Jews and the Protestant clergy; the Greek Septuagint, which was used as authoritative in the Greek and other eastern churches; and the Samaritan Torah, the standard authority for that people. These three versions differ greatly, one from another, even with regard to the lifetimes of the celebrated figures.  Read more…

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Authorized translation of unpublished Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Ethel Rosenberg in 1906 in reply to her questions about the Tablet of Wisdom. Research Department, Baha'i World Centre)

Robert Turner - one of 19 Disciples of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Robert Turner, one of 19 Disciples of ‘Abdu’l-Baha was born on October 15, 1855 or 1856. He was the first member of the negro race in the Western Hemisphere to embrace the Faith. [Shoghi Effendi God Passes By]. Since it is estimated that Robert was born in Virginia in about 1855-56, it is possible that he was born enslaved. [The American Baha’i, November 23, 2005] He was for some 35 years a butler in the household of Phoebe Hearst, eventually becoming her personal butler -- a position of considerable responsibility. Shortly before 1898, Phoebe Hearst received Lua Getsinger in her San Francisco home. Lua introduced the Faith to her while Robert was in attendance serving tea. Naturally, he overheard the conversation and, like Mrs. Hearst, was touched by what he heard. He was with Phoebe Hearst when, in 1898, she arranged for the first group of Baha’i pilgrims to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in 'Akka. On 10 December 1898 Robert was warmly received by 'Abdu'l-Baha Who raised him to his feet and embraced him when, on first seeing the Master, he had dropped to his knees calling out, "My Lord! My Lord! I am not worthy to be here. On a later occasion 'Abdu'l-Baha said, "Robert, your Lord loves you.” [Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’] Robert later encountered many difficulties, but remained staunch in his new faith; he died in 1909 not many years after his return from the Holy Land.

(Adapted from ‘The A to Z of the Baha’i Faith, by Hugh Adamson)

Bahá'u’lláh was born into an ancient and noble family

On 12 November 1817, a child named Mirzá Husayn-'Ali was born in Tihrán, the capital of Persia. His father was a nobleman and a favored minister of Fath-'Ali Sháh; his mother was Khadijih Khánum. His family's ancestral home was in the village of Tákur in the district of Núr (Light) in the northern province of Mázindarán, which lies along the shore of the Caspian Sea. Though Mirzá Husayn-'Ali received little formal education, He showed signs in childhood of innate knowledge and unusual nobility of character -- signs that foreshadowed the divinely ordained role He would later assume as Bahá'u’lláh, the Glory of God. His revelation would shake Persia to its depths, revolutionize the fortunes of the world, and usher in a new and glorious age in human history.

- Geoffry Marks  (‘Call to Remembrance’)

History of philosophers prior to Alexander of Greece

As to what thou didst ask regarding the history of the philosophers: history, prior to Alexander of Greece, is extremely confused, for it is a fact that only after Alexander did history become an orderly and systematized discipline. One cannot, for this reason, rely upon traditions and reported historical events that have come down from before the days of Alexander. This is a matter thoroughly established in the view of all authoritative historians. How many a historical account was taken as fact in the eighteenth century, yet the opposite was proven true in the nineteenth. No reliance, then, can be placed upon the traditions and reports of historians which antedate Alexander, not even with regard to ascertaining the lifetimes of leading individuals. Read more…

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Authorized translation of unpublished Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Ethel Rosenberg in 1906 in reply to her questions about the Tablet of Wisdom. Research Department, Baha'i World Centre. Published pp 78-81 in ‘Ethel Jenner Rosenberg, the Life and Times of England's Outstanding Baha'i Pioneer Worker’, by Robert Weinberg (George Ronald,Oxford, 1995)

'Abdu'l-Baha's initial impression of New York upon His arrival in 1912

I am greatly pleased with the city of New York. Its harbor entrance, its piers, buildings and broad avenues are magnificent and beautiful. Truly, it is a wonderful city. As New York has made such progress in material civilization, I hope that it may also advance spiritually in the Kingdom and Covenant of God so that the friends here may become the cause of the illumination of America, that this city may become the city of love and that the fragrances of God may be spread from this place to all parts of the world.

- Abdu'l-Baha  (From a talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 11 April 1912; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)

1903: American Baha’is requested permission from ‘Abdu’l-Baha for construction of a temple

Having heard enthusiastic reports of the building of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkar [Baha’i Temple] in ‘Ishqabad, Russia, the members of the Spiritual committee (better known as the "House of Spirituality") of the Chicago Assembly were inspired to supplicate to the Center of the Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, to grant permission for the second Mashriqu’l-Adhkar to be built in America. Read more…

(The Baha’i Year Book 1925-1926)

Entrance to Bahá’u’lláh's ancestral House in Takur, Persia

Entrance to Bahá’u’lláh's ancestral House in Takur, which was destroyed after the 1979 revolution in Iran.

The first black-white marriage in the American Baha'i community

Louis and Louise Gregory

Baha’u’llah’s Ancestral Place

Baha’u’llah’s family came from Nur, a district in the Iranian province of Mazandaran, the province in north Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. This province has high mountain peaks in the south descending to the northern coastal plain bordering the sea. Because of the dense sub-tropical jungles of the lower parts of the province (a stark contrast to the dry desert conditions in much of the rest of Iran), it was always difficult area for invaders to penetrate. Read more…

- Moojan Momen  ('Baha’u’llah: A Short Biography')

October 1819 - Birth of the Báb

Siyyid (or Mirza) 'Ali-Muhammad, known to history as the Báb, was the son of Siyyid (or Mir) Muhammad-Rida, a mercer of Shiraz [Persia]. He was born on October 20th 1819 (Muharram 1st, 1235 A.H.). Through both His father and His mother He was descended from Imam Husayn, the third Imam. Thus He stood in direct line of descent from the Prophet Muhammad. Read more…

- H.M. Balyuzi  (‘The Bab - The Herald of the Day of Days’)

How early Eastern believers viewed birthday celebrations

It is interesting to note that the early believers in the East during the days of Bahá'u'lláh and ‘Abdu'l-Bahá never celebrated their own birthdays. They considered that such an act would imply self-glorification, a means of boosting one's ego. It never crossed their minds that a certain day was their birthday. Read more… 

- Adib Taherzadeh  (‘The Covenant of Baha'u'llah’)

Professor E.G. Browne’s view of the Advent of the Báb

I am very anxious to get as accurate an account of all the details connected with the [Faith of the Báb] as possible, for in my eyes the whole [story] seems one of the most interesting and important events that has occurred since the rise of Christianity -- and I feel it my duty, as well as my pleasure, to try as far as in me lies to bring the matter to the notice of my countrymen -- for suppose anyone could tell us more about the childhood and early life and appearance of Christ, for instance, how glad we should be to know it. Now it is impossible to find out much -- but in the case of the Báb it is possible -- So let us earn the thanks of posterity, and provide against that day now. 

- E.G. Browne of Cambridge University  (Quoted in 'The Chosen Highway')

1914 -- First photograph taken of 'Abdu'l-Baha in the Holy Land

'Abdu'l-Baha with some pilgrims and resident Baha'is gathered at the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel.

'Abdu'l-Baha Recognized Baha'u'llah when He was only 9 Years Old

Bahá'u'lláh departed from Tihran for Iraq on 12 January 1853. Among those who accompanied Him in His exile was His eldest son, nine-year-old Abbas, who later assumed the title of Abdu'l-Bahá (Servant of Baha). He had such spiritual insight that, as a young boy, He intuitively recognized the station of His Father. So highly did Bahá'u'lláh esteem Him that in Baghdad He used to address Him, while still in His teens, as the Master -- a designation which Bahá'u'lláh had also used for His own father while in Tihran.

- Adib Taherzadeh  (The Revelation of Baha'u'llah vol. 1)

Baha'u'llah revealed a Tablet known as the “Tablet of the Bell” in October 1863

It was revealed on the eve of the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb, 19 October 1863 following a request made through 'Abdu'l-Bahá by one of Bahá'u'lláh's companions. The revelation of this Tablet on such an auspicious occasion brought immense joy to the hearts of those who were celebrating that historic festival. A provisional translation of this Tablet is at: Tablet of the Bell (Lawh-i-Náqús) - by Baha’u’llah ---> Read more…

(Adapted from ‘The Revelation of Baha'u'llah vol. 2’, by Adib Taherzadeh)

Baha'u'llah's Vision in Siyyah-Chal (Black Pit)

During October 1852 Baha’u’llah has a vision of a Maiden, who announces to Him that He is the Manifestation of God for this age. This experience compares to the episode of Moses and the Burning Bush, Zoroaster and the Seven Visions, Buddha under the Bodhi tree, the descent of the Dove upon Jesus and the voice of Gabriel commanding Muhammad to ‘cry in the name of thy Lord.’ 

- Glenn Cameron and Wendi Momen (A Basic Baha’i Chronology)

1910: An early Baha'i convention in America

Baha'i convention in Masonic temple, Chicago, 1910 Mr. Hall presiding.

Significant Ages ...

* The Bab was 25 years old when He declared His Mission.

* Baha’u’llah was 27 years old when He embraced the religion of the Bab.

* ‘Abdu’l-Baha was 9 years old when He recognized Baha’u’llah’s station.

* Shoghi Effendi was 23 years old when he became the Guardian.