Chronology: Date 1934

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

World Canada
any all exact phrase

Date 1934, descending — sort earliest first

date	event	tags	firsts
1934 6 Dec 193-	The Tarbíyat Bahá'í Schools in Tihrán and all other Bahá'í schools across the country were closed by order of the Minister of Education (headed by 'Ali-Asghar-i-Hikmat, a well-known Azali) when they failed to open on a holy day. [BBD221–2; BW18:389; CB312; GPB363; PP308; RoB4p313; BN No 97 January 1936 p1] In spite of (or because of) their high standards of education, the Bahá'í schools, which attracted ordinary people as well as a number of rich, famous and influential families to send their children as pupils, faced harsh opposition, mainly from the more traditional and conservative elements in the society, and specifically from the Shi'i clerics. This was hardly surprising, given the strong animosity towards the Bahá'ís in Shi'i Iran. According to Shoghi Effendi, while the 'ulama' headed the opposition to the Bábis and Bahá'ís, it was the Qajar kings and governors who willingly became the means through which this opposition was translated into action, as a way to obtain the clerics' support and backing for their own policies. But as far as Nasir al-Din Shah was concerned, he had his own reasons for persecuting Bábis and Bahá'ís (between whom he did not appear to differentiate) . In 1852 an inept attempt had been made on his life. [The Forgotten Schools: The Baha'is and Modern Education in Iran, 1899–1934 p97] For Western accounts of the episode see BBR475–9.	Tarbiyat School, Tihran; - Bahá'í inspired schools; Holy days; * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Azali Bábís; Social and economic development; Tehran, Iran; Iran
1934 Dec 193-	The National Spiritual Assembly of Egypt and the Sudan incorporated. [GPB336; BN No 321 November 1957 p4,/a<] This is the first national assembly in an Islamic country to secure civil recognition and the status of an independent religion. [BW6:24]	National Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Egypt; Sudan	first NSA in Islamic country to secure civil recognition and the status of an independent religion
1934 25 Nov 193-	The first Spiritual Assembly of Addis Ababa was formed. [BW6:70] The community was established by Sabri Elias, and Fahima Elias, pioneers from Egypt who thus earned the title Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. Later Elias was asked to return home with other foreigners. [BW6:71] Ethiopia was the only independent Kingdom in Africa at this date. [BW6:70] Wikipedia says that the Assembly was formed in "late 1934".	Local Spiritual Assembly; Sabri Elias; Fahima Elias; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopia	first LSA Addis Ababa; first African to take the Faith to another African country.
1934 8 Nov 193-	There were ten Bahá'ís in Addis Ababa when the first LSA was elected. Its members were Atto Sium Gabril-ch, Atto Haila Gabril-vc, Habib Boutros, Sabri Elias-sec, Edouard Goubran, El-Saad Said, E-saad Mansour, Abdu'llahi ahmed, and Aurahil Egsabaihir. A cable announcing formation of the Assembly was sent to Shoghi Effendi, who replied "rejoiced, praying, love, gratitude". In 1934 Sabri Elias was able to have Baha'u'lláh and the New Era translated into Amharic and then published. This was an important step in disseminating the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith across the country. The book was distributed to local libraries and to Bahá'ís around the world. In 1936, a copy of the book was given to the then - Ethiopian King, His Majesty Haile Selassie when he was visiting Jerusalem by a Canadian Bahá'í Mrs. Lorol Schipeflocher. [bahai.org] A circular letter of 21 August 1935 informed LSAs that spiritual meetings had been suspended due to the "present condition of Ethiopia". Elias was forced to leave Ethiopia by socio-political events in 1935, but he and Mrs Elias returned to Addis Ababa in January 1944. [BW10p57] This Assembly became the first incorporated Local Spiritual Assembly in Africa. [BW13p287]	Local Spiritual Assembly, incorporation; LSA, formation; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopia	first incorporated LSA in Africa
1934 23 Oct 193-	Dr Susan Moody (b. Amsterdam, NY 20 November 1851) passed away in Iran. She had become a Bahá'í in May 1903 as a result of an intense study of the Faith with Isabella Brittingham. [BFA2:359, 361] See Susan Moodie by R Jackson Armstrong-Ingram. For her services in Iran and an obituary see BW6:483–6. See her biography Dr. Susan I. Moody's Travels to Iran: 1909-1934: Courageous Odyssey by Dr Hoda Mahmoud. Published initially by Routledge 2 April 2024 with plans for a printing by Kalimat Press. "This book explores the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the women’s movement, advances in medicine and healthcare, and the start of a new religion – The Baha’i Faith – of which Moody became a devoted member. Susan Moody was a pathbreaking artist and educator who became a physician later in life. She made the bold decision to leave the United States and travel to Iran in 1909 to serve women who effectively had no access to medical care. In examining Dr Susan Moody’s story, this volume seeks to reflect on our own changing moment and the ever-present possibilities of improvement and advancement. By tracing her own courageous odyssey, we are invited to more deeply understand our own." She was buried near the graves of Lillian Kappes and Sarah Clock in the Tihrán Bahá'í cemetery. [BW6:486]	Susan Moody; Lillian Kappes; Sarah Clock; - In Memoriam; Elizabeth Stewart; Cemeteries and graves; Tehran, Iran; Iran
1934 20 Oct 193-	The publication of the dictionary used by the Guardian. In a message from the Universal House of Justice to a department at the World Centre, Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum is quoted as saying: …that the English dictionary to which the beloved Guardian habitually referred was "Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language", second edition, unabridged, 1934, London G. Bell and Sons Ltd., Springfield, Massachusetts, R. and C. Merriam Co. We presume that if there were two versions published, one American and one British, it will have been the British one that the Guardian used. Reference to this specific edition of this dictionary is, obviously, very important when gauging the exact meaning intended by Shoghi Effendi in the use of certain words. [Dictionary Used by the Guardian by/on behalf of Universal House of Justice 1997-12-08] See Wikipedia.	Shoghi Effendi, Dictionary of; Webster's Dictionary; - Dictionaries; * Translation; - English language; * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Shoghi Effendi, Writings of; Shoghi Effendi, Translations by; Shoghi Effendi, Works of; - Bahá'í World Centre; London, England
1934 28 Aug 193-	Mishkín-Qalam's calligraphic rendering of the Greatest Name was registered as a trademark with the United States patent office. [BW6:350]	Mishkin-Qalam; Greatest Name; United States Patent Office; Copyright and trademarks; United States (USA)
1934 Jul 193-	The formation of a Spiritual Assembly, the first in the Balkans, elected in Sofia in July, 1934 by a community of thirty or more. [BW6p133 NBAD138]	Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Sofia, Bulgaria; Bulgaria	The first Local Spiritual Assembly in the Balkans. The first Local Spiritual Assembly in Sofia.
1934 15–18 May 193-	The first National Convention of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand was held in Sydney, with nine delegates in attendance. [SBR165] The first Regional Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand was elected with its seat in Sydney. [GPB333,SBR165] iiiii Those elected were: Percy Almond, Ethel Blundell, Hilda Brooks, Robert Brown, Hyde Dunn, Silver Jackman, Charlotte Moffitt, Margaret Stevenson, and Oswald Whitaker. [A Vision of Unity p10-11]	Conventions, National; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; First conventions; Sydney, Australia; Australia; New Zealand	first National Convention Australia and New Zealand; first NSA Australia and New Zealand
1934 10 May 193-	Bahá'í properties on Mount Carmel were granted tax exemption. [GBF122; PP269, 285-286; BN No 84 June 1934 p14] Shoghi Effendi stated that this was tantamount to securing indirect recognition of the Faith. [GBF122; PP269]	Tax exemption; Recognition (legal); Mount Carmel; - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel; Israel
1934 26 Apr 193-	The first national convention of the Bahá'ís of Iran was held in Tehran over a period of eight days. The social and religious affairs of the national community prior to this time had been directed by the former Central Assembly of Tehran. Following the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly, the by-laws of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States were translated into Persian and adopted with modifications. Also, national committees were appointed to help the National Spiritual Assembly with specific tasks. [GPB333; BW6p22-23; WOB99; BAHAISM v. The Bahai Community in Iran by V. Rafati] ARG83, 118 (photo) says that 1933 was the date of the first National Convention. BW6p94 says that 1935 was the date of the first National Convention.	By-laws; Conventions, National; Central Assembly of Tehran; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Tehran, Iran; Iran; National Spiritual Assembly, Iran	first National Convention in Iran
1934 3rd week Mar 193-	Martha Root arrived in Athens to oversee the work of translating and publishing Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era in Greek with the translator, Dionysios Devaris, the editor of an Athens newspaper. [MR401]	Martha Root; * Translation; Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era (book); Athens, Greece; Greece
1934 14 Mar 193-	Louise Gregory arrived in Belgrade to join Martha Root in the teaching work. Their overlap lasted until the 25th of March when Martha left for Athens. [SYH186-187] Martha had arranged for a new believer, Mrs Draga Ilić, to translate Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era as well as the Hidden Words into Serbian. [SYH187] During her time here Louisa received American visitors Charles and Helen Bishop from Portland, OR, who were on their way to Geneva to take up service at the International Bahá'í Bureau. They had been on pilgrimage in Haifa. [SYH188; BW6p133] Louise established herself as a language teacher giving private lessons. On the 19th of June she moved to a larger house near the Austrian border then after a few weeks went to Salzburg to meet with Miss Fürth until the end of July. When Marion Jack arrived they travelled together to Munich and Göppingen and then to Esslingen to attend the German Bahá'í summer school at the request of Shoghi Effendi. It ran from the 5th to the 12th of August. [SYH190-191, 195] For photos taken at the summer school see SYH198-199. After the summer school Marion and Louise went to Stuttgart and arrived back in Salzburg on the 3rd of September. She had trouble having her visa renewed and ultimately had to go to Vienna for this purpose. She returned to Belgrade by boat down the Danube. [SYH196-197] A report on her teaching work in Belgrade was printed in the Bahá'í News No 90 March 1935 pg11. Because her visa expired she was obliged to return to America. She left Belgrade near the end of April and went to England with plans to visit her relatives before boarding the Laconia in Liverpool destined for Boston on the 11th of May 1935. She had been away from home some 18 months on this teaching trip and had visited Varna in Bulgaria, Salzburg in Austria, Belgrade in Yugoslavia, Esslingen, Munich, Göppingen and Stuttgart in Germany, Salzburg and Vienna in Austria. [SYH 203-205, 242] ,	Louise Gregory; Martha Root; Draga Ili?; Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era (book); * Language; * Translation; Charles Bishop; Helen Bishop; Belgrade, Serbia; Yugoslavia; Salzburg, Germany; Munich, Germany; Germany	first pioneer in Yugoslavia
1934 23 Jan 193-	Agnes S. Parsons died after an automobile accident. [BW5:410; SBR96; BN No 82 April 1934 p4] She is primarily remembered for her contribution to the cause of race unity in North America. [BW5:413] For her obituary see BW5:410–14. See also Diary of Agnes Parsons; SBR76–96. See as well FMH47-49 for the story of how she came to accept the Cause through three supernatural signs during her pilgrimage in 1910.	Agnes Parsons; Race; Unity; - In Memoriam; Washington, DC, USA; United States (USA)
1934 23 Jan 193-	Shoghi Effendi gave Queen Marie of Romania the gift of a Tablet in the handwriting of Bahá'u'lláh. [GBF50; PP116]	* Shoghi Effendi (chronology); Queen Marie of Romania; Gifts; Manuscripts; * Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Romania
1934 (In the year) 193-	In Egypt, a certain learned Shaykh el Kharashi attacked the Faith in a series of articles under the heading, "The Bahá'í Faith Is a Pleasing Illusion". 'Abdu'l-Jalíl Bey Sa'ad refuted his arguments with a series of fourteen articles under the heading "The Bahá'í Faith Is an Everlasting Truth". Having failed to counter 'Abdu'l-Jalíl's arguments the Shaykh and his associates appealed to the authorities to stop his articles on the grounds that they were anti-Muhammadan. The matter was raised to the Minister and then to Parliament where both parties were asked to stop publication. 'Abdu'l-Jalíl was transferred to a remote part of the country where, it was hoped that he would not be able to resume his activities. [BW9p598]	Criticism and apologetics; `Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Saad; Egypt
1934 (In the year) 193-	The Declaration of Trust was legalized in Egypt as a result of the work of Montfort Mills and 'Abdu'l-Jalíl Bey Sa'ad. This greatly facilitated future transactions with the Government. [BW9p598]	Montfort Mills; `Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Saad; Declaration of Trust and By-laws; Egypt
1934 (In the year) 193-	The government of Iran took several measures against the Bahá'ís throughout the country. [BW18p389] Nineteen Bahá'í schools are closed in Káshán, Qazvín, Yazd, Najafábád, Ábádih and elsewhere. [ARG109] Bahá'í meetings were forbidden in many towns, including Tihrán, Mashhad, Sabzivár, Qazvín and Arák. Bahá'ís centres in Káshán, Hamadán and Záhidán were closed by the authorities. Some Bahá'í government employees were dismissed. Some Bahá'í military personnel were stripped of their rank and imprisoned. Bahá'ís in many places were harassed over the filling-in of marriage certificates, census forms and other legal documents.	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Education; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Tarbiyat School, Tihran; - Bahá'í inspired schools; Iran; Kashan, Iran; Qazvin, Iran; Yazd, Iran; Najaf, Iranabad, Iran; Ábádih, Iran; Tehran, Iran; Mashhad, Iran; Sabzevár, Iran; Arak, Iran; Hamadán, Iran; Záhidán, Iran
1934 (In the year) 193-	The first National Spiritual Assembly of Iran was elected. [BBRSM:121; BW6:268] For a picture see BW6:268.	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Iran; National Spiritual Assembly, Iran	first NSA Iran


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