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date	event	locations	tags	see also
1817. c. 1817	Birth of Hand of the Cause Mullá Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání (Hájí Amín), in Ardikán, near Yazd.	Ardikan; Yazd; Iran	Haji Amin (Abul-Hasan-i-Ardikani); Hands of the Cause; Births and deaths
1829 29 Mar	Birth of Áqá Muhammad-i-Qá'iní (Nabíl-i-Akbar), Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh, in Naw-Firist, near Bírjand. He died on the 5th of July 1892 in Bukhara, Russian Turkistan (now Uzbekistan). He was referred to as a Hand of the Cause by 'Abdu'l-Bahá posthumously. [Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project; MoFp1]	Naw-Firist; Birjand; Iran	Nabil-i-Akbar (Aqa Muhammed-i-Qaini); Apostles of Bahaullah; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha
1842 - 1843	Birth of Hájí Ákhúnd (Mullá `Alí-Akbar Shahmírzádí), (d. 4 March 1910 in Tehran) in Shahmírzád, near Semnān [Simnán]. He was named a Hand of the Cause by Bahá'u'lláh. [Bahá'í Encylopedia Project; EB266; MoF9-12]	Shahmirzad; Iran	Haji Akhund (Mulla Ali-Akbar-i-Shahmirzadi); Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1848. Aug - Sep	Birth of Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan Tálaqání, (b. Aug-Sep 1848 in Karkabúd, near Tálaqán, d.3 August 1919 in Tehran) also known by the title Adíbu’l-‘Ulamá and the designation Adíb, Hand of the Cause and Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh. [Bahá'í Encylopedia Project]	Talaqan; Iran	Adib (Haji Mirza Hasan Talaqani); Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Births and deaths; Apostles of Bahaullah; Births and deaths
1850 - 1851	Birth of Mírzá `Alí-Muhammad-i-Khurásání, (b. 1850-1851 Mashad, d. 2 April 1928 in Tehran) later known as Ibn-i-Asdaq, Hand of the Cause. His father, Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas had left his native Khurasan and travelled to the city of Karbila where he saw the Báb. Subsequently he went to Isfahan where he encountered Mullá Husayn Bushrui who led him to the recognition of the Promised One. He and Quddús were later dragged through the streets of Shiraz and expelled from the city. [PG108; Bahá'í Encylopedia Project]	Khurasan; Karbala; Iraq; Mashhad; Iran	Ibn-i-Asdaq (Mirza Ali-Muhammad); Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1850. Aug c.	Mullá Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání (Hájí Amín), Hand of the Cause, became a Bábí.		Haji Amin (Abul-Hasan-i-Ardikani); Hands of the Cause
1852 20 Mar	The publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was the best-selling novel of the 19th century and the second best-selling book of that century, following the Bible. It is credited with helping fuel the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. In recent years, the negative associations with Uncle Tom's Cabin have, to an extent, overshadowed the historical impact of the book as a "vital antislavery tool. [Wikipedia] Harriet Beecher Stowe was an ancestor of Ellen "Mother" Beecher who was a grandmother of Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker.	United States	Uncle Toms Cabin: Life Among the Lowly; English literature; Literature (general); Race (general); Harriet Beecher Stowe; Ellen Beecher; Hands of the Cause; Dorothy Baker
1853 - 1854	The birth of Áqá Mírzá Muhammad-Taqí Abharí, (b. 1853-1854 in Abhar, d. 30 January 1919 in Tehran), also known by the designation Ibn Abhar [Ibn-i-Abhar]. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause in 1868 and was an Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh. [EB268; Bahá'í Encylopedia Project]	Abhar; Tihran; Iran	Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Apostles of Bahaullah; Ibn-i-Abhar
1855 5 Mar	Birth of John Henry Hyde Dunn, Hand of the Cause, in London. [Bahá'í Chronicles]	London; United Kingdom	Hyde Dunn; birth; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1868 (In the year)	Hájí Mullá `Alí-i-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí (later Hand of the Cause Hájí Ákhúnd) was imprisoned in Tihrán as a Bahá'í on the order of Mullá `Alí Kání. This is the first of many imprisonments. [EB266] He was imprisoned so often that `Abdu'l-Bahá later said of him that at the first sign of disturbances, he would `put on his turban, wrap himself in his `abá and sit waiting' to be arrested. [MF11]	Tihran; Iran	Haji Akhund (Mulla Ali-Akbar-i-Shahmirzadi); Mulla Ali Kani; Hands of the Cause
1869. 12 May	Birth of Clara Davis Dunn, Hand of the Cause, in London.	London; United Kingdom	Clara Dunn; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1872 10 Aug	Birth of Martha Root, Hand of the Cause and itinerant Bahá'í teacher, in Richmond, Ohio.	Richmond; Ohio; United States	Martha Root; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1873. 7 Jun	Birth of Amelia Engelder Collins, Hand of the Cause, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.	Pittsburgh; PA; United States	Hands of the Cause; Amelia Collins; Births and deaths
1874 - 1875	The passing of Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas-i-Khurásání entitled by Bahá'u'lláh Ism'lláh'l-Asdaq (In the Name of God the Most Truthful) in Hamadán. He was born in Mashhad in around 1800, the son of a cleric, he furthered his own clerical studies in Karbila under the Shaykhi leader Sayyid Qasim Rashti, eventually gaining the rank of mujtahid, and becoming known by the honorific title Muqaddas (‘the holy one’). As a young man he had been a disciple of Siyyid Kázim and had met Siyyid 'Alí-Muhammad in Karbilá. He was among the first believers who identified with the Message of the Báb. See DB100 and EB7 for the story of how he independently determined His identity when he met Mullá Husayn in Isfahán on his way to deliver a tablet to Bahá'u'lláh in Tehran. The very next day he left Isfahán for Shíráz on foot arriving 12 days later to find that the Báb had already departed for pilgrimage. He took up residence in Shíráz and received a Tablet from the Báb instructing him to change the Call to Prayer. See DB146-148, EB13-14 for the story of how he endured over 900 strokes of the lash on the command of Husayn Khán-i-Írva´ní, the Governor of the province of Fars, and remained indifferent to the pain. (6 August, 1845) He was expelled from the city and proceeded to Yazd. He had similar fate in that city and was banished. He, together with Quddús and Mullá Alí Akbar'-i-Ardistání, were the first three Bábís known to suffer persecution for the Faith on Persian soil. On the way to Khurásán he joined Mullá Husayn and those who would participate in the Tabarsí siege where he was on hand for the death of Mullá Husayn. (DB381) After the deception and massacre he was one of the few survivors and, as a prisoner, was taken to Mázindarán to be executed by the family Prince Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá who had commanded the royal troops and had been killed in battle. On route the party called on the clerics to interrogate him and his fellow Bábis and they became convinced that they were not heretics deserving of execution. The prisoners were to be sent to Tehran but escaped and made their way to Míhámí and eventually to Mashad. In 1861, after life in that city became impossible, he went to Baghdád where he attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh. After 14 months he returned to his native province of Khurásán. He continued in his audacious teaching and as a result was taken to Tehran where he was kept in the Síhåh-Chál. He taught a number of fellow prisoners about the Promised One and converted Hakím Masíh, the Jewish physician assigned to attend to the prisoners. He was the first Bahá'í of Jewish background in Tehran (and was the grandfather of Lutfu'lláh Hakím, a former member of the Universal House of Justice.) After 28 months imprisonment he was pardoned but refuse to leave without his fellow prisoners. The Sháh released 40 of the 43 prisoners. (The remaining three were guilty of actual crimes.) After Tehran he went to Khurásán and returned to the capital some three years later to help in changing the hiding place of the remains of the Báb. Then he travelled to Káshán, Isfahán and Yazd where he convinced some of the Afnáns to accept the truth of their Nephew's claims. After returning to Khurásán he was given permission to make a pilgrimage to 'Akká where he remained for some four months, returning by way of Mosul and Baghdád. When he reached Hamadán he was exhausted. Twelve days after his arrival he passed. He had been the recipient of many tablets from Bahá'u'lláh including a Tablet of Visitation after his passing. One of the most well-know tablets was the Lawh-i-Ahbáb (Tablet of the Friends). It is thought He revealed this Tablet some time after leaving the barracks in 'Akká, about 1870-1871. [RoB3p258-260, List of the Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh] He was the father of Ibn-i-Asdaq who Bahá'u'lláh appointed a Hand of the Cause of God. [EB19] ‘Abdu’l-Baha posthumously referred to him as a Hand of the Cause of God. References [LoF32-41, MF5-8, DB381. EB7-23, BBR 69-70] Note: Other sources fix his passing, EB23 and LoF32: 1889, but Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project had determine his passing as 1291 A.H or 1874-1875. The source is a letter from the Research Department dated 25 July 2005.	Hamadan; Iran	In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ismullahul-Asdaq (Mulla Sadiq Khurasani); Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha
1874. 19 May	Birth of John Ebenezer Esslemont, Hand of the Cause of God, in Aberdeen, Scotland.	Aberdeen; Scotland; United Kingdom	Esslemont; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1874. 6 Jun	Birth of Louis George Gregory, Hand of the Cause of God at Charleston, South Carolina.	South Carolina; United States	Louis Gregory; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1874 14 Nov	Birth of William Sutherland Maxwell, Hand of the Cause of God, in Montreal.	Montreal; Canada	Sutherland Maxwell; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1875. 21 Jul	Birth of Agnes Baldwin Alexander, Hand of the Cause, in Hawaii. She was a granddaughter of two of Hawaii's most famous missionary families, the Baldwins and the Alexanders.	Hawaii	Agnes Alexander; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1875. 16 Oct	Birth of Tarázu'lláh Samandarí, Hand of the Cause of God, in Qazvín.	Qazvin; Iran	Tarazullah Samandari; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1876. 14 Feb	Birth of Keith Ransom-Kehler, Hand of the Cause and the first American Bahá'í martyr, in Kentucky.	Kentucky; United States	Keith Ransom-Kehler; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Firsts, Other
1876. 14 Jun	Birth of George Townshend, Hand of the Cause of God, in Dublin.	Dublin; Ireland	George Townshend; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1877. 26 Sep	Birth of Siegfried Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, in Germany.	Furth; Bavaria; Germany	Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1878 (In the year)	Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí arrived in Burma with Jamál Effendi. He married into a well-to-do Indo-Burman family of traders and settled in Rangoon, remaining in Burma to build up the Burmese community. [BW10:517; PH23] See BW10:517–18 and MC155 for his conversion of Daidanaw, the first all-Bahá'í village in the world outside Iran. See BW10:517–20 for an account of his life. See RoB4p181-182. He was named a Hand of the Cause of God by the Guardian after his passing. In the village of Daidanaw, Burma (Rangoon) there is a building they call "the Shrine of Siyyid Mustafa Rumí" in his honour. [CBN253Aug-Sep1971p5] Mustafá Rúmí and Daidanaw are mentioned in the film Exemplar (18:50-20:20). 'Abdu'l-Bahá called Daidanaw "My village". See Jamal Effendi and Sayyid Mustafa Rumi in Celebes: The Context of Early Bahá'í Missionary Activity in Indonesia by Jelle de Vries.	Daidanaw; Myanmar (Burma)	Siyyid Mustafa Rumi; Jamal Effendi; Hands of the Cause; Firsts, Other; Exemplar (film)
1881 to 1928	The second Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh was Hájí Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikání, entitled Amín-i-Iláhí (Trusted of God). He had been a companion of Jináb-i-Sháh until his death in 1881 in a fatal attack. Hájí Sháh-Muhammad and Hájí Abu'l-Hasan had been the first believers to succeed in entering the city of 'Akká and attain the presence of Bahá'u'lláh in the public bath in the early days of His confinement in the Most Great Prison. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985] He travelled to Paris to obtain the presence of 'Abu'l-Bahá. By 1906 he had made 19 pilgrimages to the Holy Land. [AY225] Shoghi Effendi named him a Hand of the Cause of God posthumously (July, 1928) and was he was also named one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh. In appreciation of Hájí Amín's services, 'Abdu'l-Bahá named one of the doors of the Shrine of the Báb after him. Upon his death Shoghi Effendi appointed Hájí Ghulám-Ridá (entitled Amín-i-Amín), who for several years had been Hájí Amín's assistant, to succeed him as Trustee of the Huqúq'u'lláh. [RoB3p74-86] See Amin, Haji Abu'l-Hasan by Moojan Momen.	Akka; BWC	Huququllah; Huququllah, Trustees of; Haji Abul-Hasan-i-Ardikani (Amin-i-Ilahi); Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Apostles of Bahaullah; Haji Shah-Muhammad-i-Manshadi (Aminul-Bayan); Haji Ghulam-Rida (Amin-i-Amin); Public baths
1884 (In the year)	Birth of Valíyu'lláh Varqá, Hand of the Cause of God, in Tabríz. [BW18:381-834]	Tabriz; Iran	Varqa, Valiyullah; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Varqa
1886 In the year	Birth of Músá Banání, Hand of the Cause of God, in Baghdád. [BW15p421–423]	Baghdad; Iraq	Musa Banani; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1887. 13 Apr	The first mention of the concept of `Hand of the Cause' in Bahá'u'lláh's writings is within a Tablet revealed in honour of Ibn-i-Asdaq. [BBD115; EB173]		Ibn-i-Asdaq (Mirza Ali-Muhammad); Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Firsts, Other; Bahaullah, Writings of; Bahaullah, Life of; Appointed arm
1889 (In the year)	The passing of Hand of the Cause Mullá Sádiq Maqaddas Khurásáni also known by the designation Jináb-i-Ismu'lláhu'l-Asdaq. [MoF5-8; LoF32-41; EB7-23] Note that The Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project dates his passing 1874-1875.	Hamadan; Iran	In Memoriam; Ismullahul-Asdaq (Mulla Sadiq Khurasani); Hands of the Cause, Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha
1889. 19 Nov	Birth of General Shu`á`u'lláh `Alá'í, Hand of the Cause of God, in Tihrán.	Tihran; Iran	Shuaullah Alai; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1891 Apr c.	Two believers were arrested during the same period of intense persecution. Hájí Amín was sent to the prison of Qazvín, and Hand of the Cause Ibn-i-Abhar was consigned for four years in Tíhran, in which he bore the same chains as Bahá'u'lláh did, during the Latter's imprisonment in 1852. [Essay by Mehdi Wolf]	Qazvin; Tihran; Iran	Haji Amin (Abul-Hasan-i-Ardikani); Ibn-i-Abhar (Mulla Muhammad Taqi); Hands of the Cause; Chains; Imprisonments
1892. 5 Jul	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Nabil-i-Akbar Áqá Muhammed-i-Qá'iní. He was born in Naw-Firist, Persia (Iran) on 29 March 1829. [Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project; MoFp1] “It has been claimed that no one within the enclave of the Bahá'í Faith has ever surpassed the profundity of his erudition.” Bahá’u’lláh addressed the Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom) in his honour. [EB115] He was imprisoned a number of times in Iran for his Bahá’í activities and eventually moved to Ashkhabad (‘Ishqábád, Turkmenistan). He died in Bukhárá, Uzbekistan. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá designated him a Hand of the Cause of God. [LoF28-31] For details of his life see EB112–15 and LoF28-31. He was named as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.	Bukhara; Uzbekistan; Naw-Firist; Iran	Nabil-i-Akbar (Aqa Muhammed-i-Qaini); In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom); Bahaullah, Writings of; Apostles of Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha
1896. 15 Feb	Birth of Leroy C. Ioas, Hand of the Cause of God, in Wilmington, Illinois. His parents, Charles and Maria had become Bahá'ís in 1898 taught by Paul Dealy who was teaching Kheiralla's classes in Chicago. [Wikipedia; The Bahá'í Faith: Beginning in North America by Robert Stockman, World Order Vol 18 Issue 4 p24]	Wilmington; Illinois	Leroy Ioas; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1896 1 May	The martyrdom of Hand of the Cause of God Varqa (‘Dove’), Mírzá ‘Ali-Muhammad. (b.1856 in Yazd, d. in Tehran) He and his young son, Ruhu’lláh, were killed by, Hajib’ud-Dawleh, one of the Qajar courtiers, in fact, the Chief Steward, in the aftermath of the assassination of Nasir'd-Din Shah. Varqá was slashed to death before the eyes of his twelve-year-old son who, still refusing to recant, was strangled. [GPB296; BBRXXIX; SUR77; BW18p384; Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project] For the story of their lives see MRHK405–22 and World Order: Winter 1974-1975, Vol. 9 No.2 p29-44 as well as LoF42-49. For a Western account of the episode see BBR361–2. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá named him posthumously as a Hand of the Cause and Shoghi Effendi designated him as one of the Apostles of Bahá-u-lláh. [EB75-97 LoF42-49, BBR361-362, SoBSNBp225-229] See Varqá and Son: The Heavenly Doves by Darius Shahrokh. See also Bahá'í Chronicles. See SoW Vol 12 No 4 (17 May 1921 (Volume 7 pg93) for a photo of Varqá, Ruhu'lláh and their two companions.	Yazd; Tihran; Iran	Varqa; Varqa, Mirza Ali-Muhammad; Varqa, Ruhullah; In Memoriam; Apostles of Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Persecution, Iran; Persecution, Deaths; Persecution
1896. 13 May	Birth of Dr Ugo Giachery, Hand of the Cause of God, in Palermo, Sicily. [Wikipedia]	Palermo; Sicily	Ugo Giachery; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1897 (In the year)	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Shaykh Muhammad-Ridáy-i-Yazdí (Mullá Ridá) while incarcerated in the Síyáh-Cháh. [RoB2p84-91; Bahaipedia; Wikipedia] He was born in Muhammad-Ábád in the province of Yazd into a well-known family in about 1814. He was provided a good education and he became a divine known for his piety, eloquence and courage. Mullá Ridá became a follower of the Báb in the early days of the Revelation. He recognized Bahá'u'lláh as the Promised One of the Bayan some time after 1855 upon reading Qasídiy-i-Varqá'íyyih, "Ode of the Dove". (Bahá'u'lláh had composed this ode while still in Sulaymáníyyih.) He was a fearless teacher who was outspoken and often suffered imprisonment and torture. "Other than seventeen-year-old Badí, no one has surpassed Mullá Ridá's unusual power of endurance. The rare combination of endurance, eloquence, courage and humour made him that unique hero who illuminated the pages of the history of the Bahá'í Faith." [Extract from a Persian book called Masabih-i-Hidayat, Volume I by Azizu'llah-i-Sulaymani] In one story of his courage in teaching and his endurance in withstanding abuse, he was found to be picking his teeth while being bastinadoed and, in another, while a elderly man he withstood a brutal flogging on his bare back in the prison yard. A witness to this flogging, Ghulám-Ridá Khán, a notable of Tehran who happened to be imprisoned at the same time, became a believer upon seeing his steadfastness under the lashing. [RoB1p84-91, EB89-111, LoF21-27] 'Abdu'l-Bahá referred to a few of the believers posthumously as being Hands of the Cause (see MF5 and BW14p446) Adib Taherzadeh points out that "since there are one or two others by the same name (Shaykh-Ridáy-i-Yazdí) it is not possible to identify him. However, some believe strongly that he is Mullá Muhammad-i-Ridáy-i-Muhammmad-Ábádí. [RoB4p186n]	Muhammadabad; Yazd; Tihran; Iran	Mulla Rida; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Siyah Chal (Black Pit); Bahaullah, Writings of; Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha; Shaykh Muhammad-Riday-i-Yazdi; Mulla Muhammad-i-Riday-i-Muhammmad-Ábadi; Hands of the Cause, referred to as such by Abdul-Baha; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Persecution, Iran
1897 (In the year)	The Hands of the Cause appointed by Bahá'u'lláh were instructed by `Abdu'l-Bahá to gather to begin the consultations regarding the future organization of the Bahá'í community in Tihrán. This gathering lead to the formation of the Central Spiritual Assembly of Tihrán in 1899. [BBD98, 114, 115; EB268; BAHAISM v. The Bahai Community in Iran by V. Rafati]	Tihran; Iran	Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Central Spiritual Assembly of Tihran; Spiritual Assemblies; LSA; Administrative Order
1897. 24 Feb	Birth of Jalal Khazeh (Jalál Khádih), Hand of the Cause of God, in Tihrán.	Tihran; Iran	Jalal Khazeh; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1898. 21 Dec	Birth of Dorothy Beecher Baker, Hand of the Cause of God.		Dorothy Baker; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1899 (In the year)	A local spiritual assembly called "The Consulting Assembly of Tihrán", a forerunner of the National Spiritual Assembly was established. [EB175–6; 26 November, 2007] Four Hands of the Cause were permanent members; nine others were elected by special electors appointed by the Hands. [EB175–6]	Tihran; Iran	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; LSA; Hands of the Cause; Appointments; Elections
1899 16 Feb	Birth of Hermann Grossmann, Hand of the Cause of God, in Rosario de Santa Fé, Argentina, into a family of German background. [Bahaipedia]	Rosario de Santa Fe; Argentina	Hermann Grossmann; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1905 29 Apr	Birth of `Alí-Akbar Furútan, Hand of the Cause of God, in Sabzivár, Khurásán.	Sabzivar; Khurasan; Iran	Ali Akbar Furutan; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1906 c.	Birth of `Abu'l-Qásim Faizí, Hand of the Cause of God, in Qum.	Qum; Iran	Abul-Qasim Faizi; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1908 7 Sep	The birth of Hasan Muvaqqar Balyuzi, Hand of the Cause of God. [SBBR5:XI]		Hasan Balyuzi; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1909 (In the year)	Sutherland Maxwell, Hand of the Cause of God, became a Bahá'í. [BFA2:156] In the same year he was married to May Bolles. [WMSH16-17]	Montreal; Quebec; Canada	Sutherland Maxwell; Hands of the Cause
1909. July 23	Louis George Gregory accepted the Bahá'í Faith after investigating since 1907 when he attended a lecture given by Lua Getsinger. Joseph and Pauline Hannen were his teachers and became friends for life. At the time of his acceptance of the Faith the Washington community was not fully integrated. [Wikipedia]	Washington DC; United States	Louis Gregory; Hands of the Cause
1909 20 Aug	Birth of Paul Haney, Hand of the Cause of God, in Chicago. His given name was `Abdu'l-Bahá, bestowed upon him by `Abdu'l-Bahá Himself at his birth. His mother was born Mary Ida Parkhurst. 'Abdul-Bahá gave her the name Mariam. [BW14p343-346]	Chicago; United States	Paul Haney; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Mariam Haney
1910 4 Mar	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Hájí Mullá ‘Alí-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí, (Hájí Akhund). He was born in Shahmírzád around 1842/3. [Bahaipedia] Bahá’u’lláh had entrusted him with the sacred task of moving and hiding the remains of the Báb. In Tehran he transferred the remains to Hand of the Cause Amínu’l-Bayán who moved them through innumerable dangers to a safe hiding place in the Mosque of the Imámzádih Zayd in Tehran, where they lay concealed until the time when, at the behest of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, they were transferred to the Holy Land to be laid in their permanent resting place on the slopes of Mount Carmel. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985] He was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Bahá’u’lláh. [LoF3-8] He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh. Hand of the Cause of God `Alí-Akhar-i-Shahmírzádí (Hájí Ákhúnd) passed away in Tihrán. [BBD14; EB266]	Tihran; Shahmirzad; Iran	Haji Akhund (Mulla Ali-Akbar-i-Shahmirzadi); Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Apostles of Bahaullah
1910 8 Aug	Birth of Mary Sutherland Maxwell, Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, Hand of the Cause of God, in the borough of Qeens, New York City.	New York; United States	Mary Maxwell; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1912 (In the year)	Birth of `Alí Muhammad Varqá, Hand of the Cause of God, in Tihrán.	Tihran; Iran	Varqa, Ali-Muhammad; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Varqa
1913 13 May	Birth of H. Collis Featherstone, Hand of the Cause of God, at Quorn, South Australia.	Quorn; Australia	Collis Featherstone; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1914 9 Jan	John Ferraby, Hand of the Cause of God, was born in Southsea, England.	Southsea; United Kingdom	John Ferraby; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1917 (in the year)	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-Taqíy-i-Abharí (Ibn-i-Abhar). He was born in 1853/4 in Abhar. For four years he suffered in Síyáh-Chál wearing the very same chains as Bahá’u’lláh had worn in 1852. On being informed that the friends in Tihrán had arranged to observe the commandment of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Bahá'u'lláh revealed, in one of His Tablets to Ibn-i-Asdaq (later named as a Hand of the Cause), the following well known Words: Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified. -Bahá’u’lláh [Some Bahai Sacred Spaces for Community, Slide presentation by the UK Community, Slide #74] His services during the time of the Master included teaching journeys through Persia, the Caucasus and India. He also made some eleven journeys to the Holy Land with the permission of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. A special service rendered by Ibn-i-Abhar was the promotion of the education of women. He and his wife played an important part in the advancement of women in Persian society. In 1886 Bahá’u’lláh appointed him a Hand of the Cause. He died in 1917. [LoF13-16, BBD114, EB268; Bahaipedia] Shoghi Effendi designated him as an Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh. [LoF12]	Abhar; Tihran; Iran; Caucasus; India	Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Ibn-i-Abhar (Mulla Muhammad Taqi); Siyah Chal (Black Pit); Chains; Women; Blessed is the spot; Apostles of Bahaullah
1919 (in the year)	Amelia Collins, Hand of the Cause, became a Bahá'í in Pasadena, California. [PSBW74]	Pasadena; California; United States	Amelia Collins; Hands of the Cause
1919 13 Aug	The passing of Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan Táliqání, Hand of the Cause of God, entitled Adíbu'l-'Ulamá, know as Adíb (Educator) in Tihrán at the Shah's College established by Násirii'd-Dín Sháh. He was born in Talaqán in 1848 and became a Bahá’í around 1889. [BBD98, SUR29] Bahá’u’lláh appointed him a Hand of the Cause of God. [SDH138-140] He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh. He was one of the founders of the Tarbíyat Schools in Tihrán. [LoF17-18] For a brief history of his life see EB272-3. EB273 says he died on 2 September 1919.	Tihran; Talaqan; Iran	Adib (Haji Mirza Hasan Talaqani); Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Tarbiyat School; In Memoriam; Apostles of Bahaullah
1920 (In the year)	George Townshend became a Bahá'í, and sent a letter of acceptance of the Faith to `Abdu'l-Bahá. [GT49]	Dublin; Ireland	George Townshend; Hands of the Cause
1920 10 Apr	Clara and Hyde Dunn arrived in Sydney, Australia. [AB445] SBR158 says this was 18 Apr 1919. They are thought to be the first Bahá'í pioneers to have arrived at their post after the release of the Tablets of the Divine Plan. [G. Hassel] Within three years they had visited 225 towns. [Keynote address by Dr. Vahid Saberi at the Heroes Teaching Conference 6-7 April, 2019] By the time Hyde passed away in Sydney in 1941 the Bahá'í Teachings had been taken to every State; Local Spiritual Assemblies had been established in Auckland, Sydney and Adelaide; the National Spiritual Assembly had been established in 1934 and the Yerrinbool Bahá’í School had been inaugurated in 1938. [Spiritual conquerors of this wide, brown land by Graham Hassall] In 2020 the Australian community commemorated the centenary this event. A 26-page booklet called A Vision of Unity was published.	Sydney; Australia	Clara and Hyde Dunn; Clara Dunn; Hyde Dunn; Hands of the Cause
1921 summer	Siegfried Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, became a Bahá'í.		Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause
1925 22 Nov	John Esslemont, Hand of the Cause of God, Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, passed away in Haifa. [BW3p84-85, BBD81, SETPE1p108-110] For letters of Shoghi Effendi announcing his death and giving details of his life and funeral see BA97–8 and UD40–3. For an obituary see BW1:133–6 and BW8:929–35. He was buried next to the grave of Vakílu’d-Dawlih, the chief builder of the House of Worship at ‘Ishqábád. [DJEE37] Shoghi Effendi elevated him to the station of Hand of the Cause of God on his death. The announcement was made on November 30th. [BA7-98; BWT3:333; DJEE40; PP92; UD403, MoCxxii See also Moojan Momen, Dr John E. Esslemont (BPT UK 1975) and BW8p929-935 for "John Ebenezer Esslemont: His Life and Service" by Jesse E. Revell. In addition to the publication of Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era in Britain by George Allen and Unwin in 1923 he also published a booklet called Bahá’u’lláh and His Message in New York by the Bahá’í Publishing Committee in 1921. (32 p). It was reprinted in London by the National Bahā’i Assembly of England, 1924. (23 p.), and a revised and edited publication was done by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles. London, 1938. The Message of Bahá’u’lláh: (Based on “Bahá’u’lláh and His Message”) was published in London by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in 1945. (30 p.). [DJEE28; RG77; The Story of J. E. Esslemont and his Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era: Bibliography by Jan Jasion]	Haifa	Esslemont; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Disciples of Abdul-Baha; Vakilud-Dawlih; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Cemeteries and graves
1926 24 Jun	Enoch Olinga, future Hand of the Cause of God, was born in Abaango, Uganda.	Abaango; Uganda	Enoch Olinga; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths
1928 (In the year)	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad, known as Ibn-i-Asdaq. He was born in Mashhad in 1850/1851. [Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project] His father was Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas-i-Khurásání (also known as Ismu'lláhu'l-Asdaq of Khurásán), referred to as a Hand of the Cause of God by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. While still a child he suffered imprisonment with his father in Tehran. [EM19] In 1880 he begged Bahá’u’lláh permission to be a martyr. Bahá'u'lláh said that if one lived right he might attain martyrdom. In 1882 Bahá'u'lláh conferred the station of martyr on him calling him “Shahid Ibn-i-Shahid” (“Martyr, son of the Martyr”).” Today, the greatest of all deeds is service to the Cause. Souls that are well-assured should with utmost discretion teach the Faith,lll this martyrdom is no confined to the destruction of life and the shedding of blood. A person enjoying the bounty of life may yet be recorded as a martyr in the Book of the Sovereign Lord. [OLOMP46N12] He was the first of the Hands of the Cause of God named by Bahá'u'lláh. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave him a special mission to teach members of the “ruling class” the Faith. He was deeply involved in the planning and construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in ‘Ishqábád. Ibn-i-Asdaq, Mírzá ‘Alí-Muhammad, Hand of the Cause of God, Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh, passed away in Tihrán. He was one of the few Apostles to live into the time of Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian. [BBD115, EM176, LoF9-12, RoB4p286] For details of his life see RoB1P92-93; RoB2p 293; RoB3p62-63, 253-260, 265-268; EB2-23; MF5-8; DB100-101, 145-148, 185-187; EB171–6; BW6p103; Bahaipedia; LoF9-12. His daughter, Ruha Asdaq wrote a book about her pilgrimage experiences with her father titled One Life One Memory: Memories of Pilgrimage in 1914. The book was translated to English and published by George Ronald in 1999. For a book review by Paul Mantle. For more details of his life see EB171-176; RoB4p 301-304, Tablets to him RoB4 254, 275, 277, 2966,315-328, Photos RoB4 277-278, 281-286, 292.	Tihran; Mashhad; Iran	In Memoriam; Ibn-i-Asdaq (Mirza Ali-Muhammad); Apostles of Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed by Bahaullah; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ismullahul-Asdaq (Mulla Sadiq Khurasani); Names and titles; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Ishqabad
1928 27 May	Hájí Amín, Abu’l-Hasan-i-Ardikání, Hand of the Cause of God and Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh, passed away in Tihrán. [BBD7; EB263] For his biography see EB263. He was named a Hand of the Cause of God posthumously by Shoghi Effendi. [BBD7; EB263] See BBD7 for a picture and an account of his life.	Tihran; Iran	Haji Amin (Abul-Hasan-i-Ardikani); Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; In Memoriam; Apostles of Bahaullah
1933 23 Oct	Keith Ransom-Kehler died of smallpox in Isfahán after a year of intensive travel around Iran. [BW5:24, 398; BN No 80 January 1934 p11] For her obituary see BW5:389–410. She was buried near the grave of the King of Martyrs. [BW5:398] For a picture of her grave see BW5:399. Shoghi Effendi named her America’s ‘first and distinguished martyr’. [BW5:398] Shoghi Effendi elevated her to the rank of Hand of the Cause on 28 October, 1933. [BW5:398, MoCxxii] See message from the Guardian dated 30 October 1933. For her mission in Iran see BW5:23–7. See also PP306–7. See Other People Other Places by Marzieh Gail (pages 176-181) for a pen portrait of Keith Ransom-Kehler. See FMH51-52] See Bahá'í Chronicles. Photo of her grave. [BW9p68]	Isfahan; Iran	Keith Ransom-Kehler; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Cemeteries and graves; Names and titles; Firsts, Other
1938 to 1955	The fourth Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh was Jináb-i-Valíyu'lláh Varqá, the third son of Varqá the martyr. He was born in Tabriz and after the death of his father and brother he was raised by his grandmother, a fanatical Muslim. At the age of 16 his uncle removed him from the home and taught him the Faith. He attended the American University at Beirut and spent summers with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and accompanied the Master to America and served as His interpreter. He returned to Iran where he served on local and national assemblies and was made a Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh in 1938 at a time when the observance of the law spread throughout Iran. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985] He was elevated to a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951 and passed away in Tubingen, Germany in 1955 while taking a treatment for an illness. [BW13p831-834]	Tubingen; Germany; Tabriz; Iran; Beirut; Lebanon; Akka	Varqa, Valiyullah; Huququllah; Huququllah, Trustees of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; American University of Beirut; Varqa
1939 28 Sep	Martha Root, ‘foremost Hand raised by Bahá’u’lláh’, passed away in Honolulu. (b. 10 August,1872 Richwood Union County Ohio, USA) [BBD198–9; GPB388; MRHK486; PP105] Photos of her gravesite 1, 2 and 3. Directions to her gravesite. For Shoghi Effendi’s tribute to her see GPB386–9 and MA30. Shoghi Effendi called her the ‘archetype of Bahá’í itinerant teachers’, the ‘foremost Hand raised by Bahá’u’lláh since ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing’, ‘Leading ambassadress of His Faith’ and ‘Pride of Bahá’í teachers’. [GPB386] From the Guardian...her "acts shed imperishable lustre American Bahá'í Community". [PP106] For her obituary see BW8:643–8. She was buried in the Nuuanu Cemetery, Honolulu. See also Garis, Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold and Martha Root: Herald of The Kingdom. See Other People Other Places by Marzieh Gail (pages 170-175) for a pen-portrait of Martha Root. She was designated a Hand of the Cause of God on the 3rd of October, 1954. [MoCxxii]	Honolulu; Hawaii	Martha Root; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Cemeteries and graves; In Memoriam
1940 Sep	William Sears, Hand of the Cause of God, became a Bahá’í in Salt Lake City, Utah.	Salt Lake City; Utah; United States	William Sears; Hands of the Cause
1941 17 Feb	John Henry Hyde Dunn, passed away in Sydney. [BW9:595; SBR166] Shortly after his passing Shoghi Effendi appointed him to the rank of Hand of the Cause of God. (26 April, 1952) [MoCxxii] For the story of his life see SBR153–68. For his obituary see BW9:593–7. For a biography see The Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project Photo of his grave. [BW9p72] See Bahá'í Chronicles.	Sydney; Australia	Hyde Dunn; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi
1942 25 May	‘Abdu’l-Jalíl Bey Sa‘ad passed away and was named a Hand of the Cause of God posthumously. [BW9:597] For his obituary see BW9:597–9. On the day of his passing Shoghi Effendi announced his appointment to the rank of Hand of the Cause of God. [MoCxxii]		Abdul-Jalil Bey Saad; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; In Memoriam
1942 25 Jun	The passing of 'Abdu'l-Jalíl Bey Sa'ad who was, for many years, the president of the National Spiritual Assembly and a judge in the Civil Courts in Egypt. Through his sustained effort the Declaration of Trust was recognized as valid and legalized in 1934. He made an important contribution in translating into Arabic. Among his accomplishments were The Dawn-Breakers, Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, Laws of Personal Status and Rules of Procedure. In 1941 he employed the Declaration of Trust as an instrument to induce the Ministry of Civil Defence to grant permission to build the Hazíratu'l-Quds in Cairo. While supervising this project in the intense heat he fell ill and died suddenly after an operation. Shoghi Effendi appointed him to the rank of Hand of the Cause of God on the day of his passing. [MoC597-599]	Egypt	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Abdul Jalil Bey Saad; Declaration of Trust and By-Laws; Haziratul-Quds; Dawn-Breakers (book); Esslemont; Arabic language; Translation
1946 22 Nov	Amelia Collins was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi. [PP258; PSBW878] He dId not make this appointment public until 24 December 1951 when he announced the first contingent of the Hands. [MoCxxiii]		Amelia Collins; Hands of the Cause; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent
1946 13 Dec	The passing of Muhammad Taqí Isfahání. He had been born in Persia and was horrified by the behaviour of Mullá Muhammad Báqir (The Wolf) and Imám-Jum'íh who had killed the two brothers Muhammad Husayn and Muhammad Hasan so he left for Egypt and encountered many believers on his way. He passed through Akka and met both Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'-Bahá. His name is closely associated with the early progress of the Faith in Egypt. His house was the centre of activity and was were both Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl and Lua Getsinger spent their last days. He received 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His visit to Egypt. He was the chief member of the Publishing Committee and helped to translate many books into Arabic such as the Iqán and Some Answered Questions. The Guardian announced his elevation to the rank of Hand of the Cause of God two days after his passing and donated a sum of money to be used for his tomb. He is buried in the Bahá'í Cemetery. [MoCxxii, BW11p500-502]	Egypt	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Hands of the Cause, Activities; In Memoriam; Muhamman Taqi Isfahani; Lua Getsinger; Mirza Abul-Fadl Gulpaygani; Translation
1951 30 Jul	Louis Gregory, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Eliot, Maine, near Green Acre. [CoF163; BW12:666; TMW310, LOF98; SYH236; BN No 247 September 1951 p1] A national memorial service was held for him at the Temple in Wilmette on the 24th of November 1951. [SYH236] Soon after his passing he was designated by Shoghi Effendi the first Hand of the Cause of his race. (On 5 August, 1951) [BBD91; BW12:666, MoCxxii] Louis Gregory was the first person of his race to be elected to any administrative body in the United States. [-from talk by Louis Venters 2min 13sec] See TG114, 117-8 for a description of his passing . For his obituary see BW12:666–70. See a list of his publications. For biographical information on Hand of the Cause Louis Gregory see Gayle Morrison, To Move the World: Louis G. Gregory and the Advancement of Racial Unity in America (Wilmette, IL, USA Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982, 1999 printing). For short biographical information see Bahá'í Encyclopedia] Louis Gregory kept a journal of his visit to 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1911 including statements of 'Abdu'l-Baha, stories of the believers in the Holy Land and his experiences at the Shrines. It includes a selection of tablets 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed to him. A Heavenly Vista: The Pilgrimage of Louis G. Gregory". See Louis Gregory, the Oneness of Humanity, and Highlights in the Development of the African-American Lawyer a presentation by Anthony Vance.	Eliot; Maine; United States	Louis Gregory; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Firsts, Other
1951 20 Dec	Hand of the Cause Roy C. Wilhelm, (b.17 September, 1875) passed away in Lovel, Maine. He was buried in the Wilhelm Family Cemetery in Stoneham, Maine. [BW12:662] He became a Bahá’í when he accompanied his mother on her pilgrimage to ‘Akká in 1907. He introduced Martha Root to the Faith in 1908. In 1909 he was elected to the Executive Board of the Bahá’í Temple Unity and served on the American National Spiritual Assembly. A Unity Feast was held at his home in West Englewood, NJ in June of 1912, an event commemorated every year. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá’í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p7] He, along with Stanwood Cobb, and Genevieve Coy, wrote In His Presence: Visits to 'Abdu'l-Bahá These are said to be "three of the most important, and most touching, accounts of pilgrimages to the Holy Land in the time of `Abdu'l-Bahá. These are three classic works of Bahá'í history and literature. Roy Wilhelm's account is from his visit in 1907. On his passing Shoghi Effendi designated him a Hand of the Cause of God. (23 December, 1951) [MoCxxii, BW12:662] For his obituary see BW12:662–4. Find a grave	Lovel; Maine; United States	Roy Wilhelm; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi; Martha Root
1951 24 Dec	Shoghi Effendi appointed 12 Hands of the Cause of God, the first contingent of Hands to be appointed. BBRSM127; BW12:38–40, 374–5; BW13:333–4; MBW20; PG223-224] They were Sutherland Maxwell, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins (she had been appointed in 1946, but her appointment had not been made public), Valíyu’lláh Varqá, Tarázu’lláh Samandarí, ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan, Horace Holley, Dorothy Baker, Leroy Ioas, George Townshend, Hermann Grossmann and Ugo Giachery [GBF110–11; MBW20; PP253–4]	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Contingents; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Sutherland Maxwell; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Varqa, Valiyullah; Varqa; Tarazullah Samandari; Ali Akbar Furutan; Horace Holley; Dorothy Baker; Leroy Ioas; George Townshend; Hermann Grossmann; Ugo Giachery
1952 29 Feb	Shoghi Effendi appointed the second contingent of Hands of the Cause of God. [BW12:375–6; CT202–3 MBW20–1; PP254; ZK47] They were Fred Schopflocher, Corinne True, Dhikru’lláh Khádem, Shu’á’u’lláh ‘Alá’í, Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Músá Banání and Clara Dunn. [BW12:375–6; MWB19–20] Shoghi Effendi described their two-fold function: propagation of the Faith and preservation of its unity. [BW12:376; MBW21]	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Contingents; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Fred Schopflocher; Corinne True; Dhikrullah Khadem; Shuaullah Alai; Adelbert Muhlschlegel; Musa Banani; Clara Dunn
1952 26 Mar	Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum was appointed Hand of the Cause of God to replace her father. [GBF111; MBW132–3]	Haifa	Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
1952 27 Apr	Hyde Dunn was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God posthumously in a cable sent to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand. [BW13:861; SBR169]		Hyde Dunn; Hands of the Cause; Hands appointed posthumously by Shoghi Effendi
1952 8 Oct	Shoghi Effendi announced his decision to launch ‘the fate-laden, soul-stirring, decade-long world-embracing Spiritual Crusade’ in the coming year. [BW12:253–5; MBW40-41; StS42] For the objectives of the Crusade see BW12:256–14. Among the goals to be achieved was the construction of the International Bahá’í Archives building. [BBD22; DH168; MBW43] "the first of the major edifices destined to constitute the seat of the World Bahá'í Administrative Centre to be established on Mount Carmel". [PP264] See The Bahá’í Faith 1844-1952 Information Statistical and Comparative (PDF) compiled by Shoghi Effendi. See map of the Ten Year Crusade.	BWC	Ten Year Crusade; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; International Bahai Archives; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Auxiliary Boards; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Appointed arm; Teaching Plans; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of
1953 12–18 Feb	The first Intercontinental Teaching Conference was convened by the British National Spiritual Assembly in Kampala, Uganda. [BW12:121, MBW135-140; BN No 267 May 1953 p5-7] For Shoghi Effendi’s message to the conference see BW12:121–4. For a report of the conference see BW12:124–30. It was attended by ten Hands of the Cause, Bahá’ís from 19 countries and representatives of over 30 tribes. [PP413] Over a hundred new African believers attended as personal guests of the Guardian. [PP413] With this conference the Ten Year World Crusade was launched. [BBRSM158–9; BW12:253; MBW41] Picture. [BW12p118] See some candid video footage taken by Ted Cardell.	Kampala; Uganda; Africa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Guardianship; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; Teaching; First conferences
1953 3 – 6 May	The All-America Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in Chicago. [BW12:133] For the texts of Shoghi Effendi’s messages to the conference see BW12:133–41 and MBW142–6. Twelve Hands of the Cause were present. The Guardian was represented by Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum. [BW12:143; CBN No 82 November, 1956 p3] At the conference, five members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States resigned from that body in order to go pioneering: Elsie Austin, Dorothy Baker, Matthew Bullock, Mamie Seto and Dr William Kenneth Christian. [ZK102] Extract from the second message to All-American Intercontinental Conference from Shoghi Effendi... [MBW150] .....the lands contributed in Latin America for a similar purpose approximate one-half of a million square meters, ninety thousand of which have been set aside near Santiago, Chile, for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of South America..	Chicago; United States; Santiago; Chile; America	Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; Teaching; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Pioneering; Elsie Austin; Dorothy Baker; Matthew Bullock; Mamie Seto; William Kenneth Christian; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Santiago; Purchases and exchanges
1953 21 – 26 Jul	The European Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in Stockholm. [BW12:167; CBN No 46 November, 1953 p4; CBN No 47 December 1953 p6; CBN No 49 February 1954 p3] For Shoghi Effendi’s message to the conference see BW12:167–71. In it he called for "the opening of the following thirty virgin territories and islands: Albania, Crete, Estonia, Finno-Karelia, Frisian Islands, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Rumania, White Russia, (Belarus) assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria; Channel Islands, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Hebrides Islands, Malta, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles; Andorra, Azores, Balearic Islands, Lofoten Islands, Spitzbergen, Ukraine, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America; Liechtenstein, Monaco, Rhodes, 160 San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Italy and Switzerland". [MBW157] For a report of the conference see BW12:171–8. Fourteen Hands of the Cause were present. [BW12:171] 374 Bahá’ís from 30 countries attended, of these 110 come from the ten goal countries. [BW12:171]	Stockholm; Sweden; Europe	Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; Teaching; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities
1953 27 Jul	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. 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] 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 “Temple Builder” because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the West. [BW12:664-666] For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles. Find a grave.	Montreal; Canada	Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Wilmette
1953 7 Dec	Jalál Kházeh was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God after the passing of Hand of the Cause of God Siegfried Schopflocher. [GBF111–12; MBW55]		Jalal Khazeh; Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
1954 10 Jan	Dorothy Baker, (b.21 December, 1898) Hand of the Cause of God, was killed in a plane crash in the Mediterranean Sea, near the island of Elba. [BW12:670] In 1921 she married Frank Baker who had two motherless children. They had a girl and a boy of their own. [FMH73] She was the granddaughter of Ellen "Mother" Beecher who took her to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in 1912. An early teacher (unnamed), after seeing the young girl, had a vision and asked Jináb-i-Fazil for an explanation. He replied that "someday she will become on of the great teachers of the Cause" and Mother Beecher began to pray that this would be fulfilled. [FMH73] See FMH76-77 for the story of how Doris McKay was able to help Dorothy deal with her depression in 1929. For the Guardian’s cable see BW12:670, CF161. Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For her obituary see BW12:670–4. See also Freeman, From Copper To Gold. See TG229 for a short story about her and a comment from her on the Long Obligatory Prayer. See Remembering Dorthy Baker at Bahá'í Blog. See Bahá'í Chronicles. See article in the Canadian Bahá'í News No 46 February 1954 p1. Find a grave.	Mediterranean Sea; Elba; Italy	Dorothy Baker; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent
1954 19 Mar	Paul Haney was appointed Hand of the Cause of God following the death of Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker. [GBF111; MBW57]		Paul Haney; Dorothy Baker; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
1954 6 Apr	Shoghi Effendi announced the creation of five Auxiliary Boards with the following number of members: Asia 7; America 9; Europe 9; Africa 9; Australia 2. [BW13p335; CBN No 53 June 1954 p6; MBW44, 58-60] Their function was to ‘act as deputies of the Hands in their respective continents’, to ‘aid and advise them in the effective prosecution of the’ and to assist them ‘in the discharge of their dual and sacred task of safeguarding the Faith and of promoting its teaching activities’. [MBW63] See also BBD26; BBRSM127; MC3. These boards were mandated with the propagation of the Faith.	BWC	Auxiliary Boards; Appointed arm; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ten Year Crusade; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; Funds, Continental; Shoghi Effendi, Works of
1954 27 Nov	Shoghi Effendi described the significance of the world administrative centre of the Faith and the ‘structures, which will serve as the administrative seats of such divinely appointed institutions as the Guardianship, the Hands of the Cause, and the Universal House of Justice’ to be ranged along a ‘far-flung arc’. [MBW74]	BWC; Mount Carmel; Haifa	Guardianship; Hands of the Cause; Universal House of Justice, Seat of; Arc (World Centre); - Bahai World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; World Centre; Shoghi Effendi, Life of
1955 to 2007	The fifth Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh was 'Ali-Muhammad Varqá. He inherited both the Trusteeship and the station of Hand of the Cause of God from his father upon his passing. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985] During his tenure the compilation Huqúqu'lláh was published (1985) by the Universal House of Justice. The delegates gathered at the National Convention of the Bahá'ís of the United States in 1984 petitioned the Universal House of Justice to make the Law of the Huqúqu'lláh applicable in their country. (Up to this point the law only applied to Bahá'is of Persian origin.) The Universal House of Justice replied that it was not yet time for such a measure but did agree to make more information available in preparation for such a time. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 3 January, 1985, AWH30] Friends in Austria and the United States published codifications on the Law of the Huqúqu'lláh. To the benefit of the believers everywhere the Research Department at the World Centre was asked to prepare a brief history and a Codification. This information was sent to all national assemblies in the Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1987. In 1991 the Central Office of Huqúqu'lláh was established in the Holy Land under the direction of the Chief Trustee in anticipation of the worldwide application of the law. Subsequently regional and national boards were established. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 26 November, 1991] With the publication of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in English in 1992 the law of the Huqúqu'lláh became universally applicable. In 2005 an International Board of Trustees of the Huqúqu'lláh was established to guide the regional and national boards. Three members appointed to the Board were Sally Foo, Ramin Khadem, and Grant Kvalheim. Their term of office was to be determined. [Ridván 2005] The last Hand of the Cause of Cause and Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh, Alí Muhammad Varqá, passed away in Haifa on the 22nd of September, 2007. [BWNS579]	BWC; Haifa	Huququllah; Varqa, Ali-Muhammad; Huququllah, Trustees of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Varqa; BWNS
1955 12 Nov	Hand of the Cause of God Valíyu’lláh Varqá passed away in Stuttgart. For his obituary see BW13:831–834. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]	Stuttgart; Germany	Varqa, Valiyullah; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Varqa
1955 15 Nov	‘Alí Muhammad Varqá was appointed a Hand of the Cause to succeed his father. [GBF111; MBW91]		Varqa, Ali-Muhammad; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Varqa
1956 20 May	Louisa Mathew Gregory, (b. 1 February 1866 in Penge, Kent, England) whose wedding to Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory in 1912 was the first interracial western Bahá’í marriage, passed away in Eliot, Maine. [BW13:878; SYH19, 239] She had been introduced to the Faith by Edith Sanderson in Paris in about December of 1909. Edith had been taught by May Maxwell in 1902. [SYH5, 206] For her obituary see BW13:376–8. Error in this article There was no Bahá'í Congress in Prague in 1928 She did not attend Cambridge. 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not attend her marriage on the 27 September 1912. He was in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. [SYHvii-viii; 28]	Eliot; Maine; United States; Penge; Kent	Louisa Mathew Gregory; Louise Gregory; Edith Sanderson; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Firsts, Other
1957 25 Mar	Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend passed away in Dublin, Ireland. (b.14 June, 1896) [BBD226, BW02-03p169] For his obituary see BW13:841–846. See also David Hofman's biography, George Townshend. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] His pamphlet entitled The Old Churches and the New World Faith was his statement upon severing his relationship with his colleagues in the Anglican Church. [CBN No 89 June 1957 p1] A talk given by O.Z. (Zebby) Whitehead at an Irish Bahá'í Summer School. See The Covenant: An Analysis, a study guide on the idea of a covenant, Messengers and their missions, the covenant between the Messenger and the faithful, and covenant-breaking. Includes an appendix, compilation on the covenant. It was published in Manchester in 1950.	Dublin; Ireland	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; George Townshend; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent
1957 27 Mar	Agnes Alexander was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God on the passing of Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend. [GBF112; MBW174; PP255]		Agnes Alexander; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; George Townshend
1957 4 Jun	Shoghi Effendi added protection of the Cause to the duties of the Hands of the Cause. They were to perform this function in collaboration with the national spiritual assemblies. [BBRSM127; CB380; MBW122–3; CBN No 93 Oct 1957 p3]	BWC; Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Protection; Appointed arm
1957 Oct	The third contingent of Hands of the Cause of God was appointed: Enoch Olinga, William Sears, John Robarts, Hasan Balyuzi, John Ferraby, Collis Featherstone, Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir and Abu’l-Qásim Faizí. [GBF111; MBW127; PP254, 442; SS47] See TG160 for the story of how Enoch Olinga reacted to the news of being appointed a Hand of the Cause of God.	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Contingents; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent; Enoch Olinga; William Sears; John Robarts; Hasan Balyuzi; John Ferraby; Collis Featherstone; Rahmatullah Muhajir; Abul-Qasim Faizi
1957 Oct	Shoghi Effendi designated the Hands of the Cause the ‘Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World commonwealth’. [MBW127]	BWC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Appointed arm; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of
1957 10 Nov	The Hands of the Cause met in London. [TG157] See SDSC191-195 and SDSC430 note 8 for excerpts from the transcript of the talk recorded in shorthand by Rose M Wade and given by Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum to the gathered Hands and other friends.	London; United Kingdom	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum
1957 15 Nov	Hands of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins and Leroy Ioas, accompanied by Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery, entered the apartment of Shoghi Effendi and sealed with tape and wax the safe where his important documents were kept as well as the drawers to his desk. [BW13:341] The keys to the safe were placed in an envelope, which was sealed and signed by the five Hands and then placed in the safe of Leroy Ioas. BW13:341]	Haifa	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Leroy Ioas; Ugo Giachery
1957 18–25 Nov	The first conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God convened at Bahjí. Twenty-three Hands were present. [BBRSM128; DH215; MoC8–11, 25-51; TG158] This was the first meeting of the Hands of the Cause as a group. For a personal account of the Conclave by Hand of the Cause Zikrullah Khadem. see ZK119. For the nature of the six Conclaves see MoC9–10, 12. For picture see MoCiv.	Akka; BWC; Haifa	Bahji; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Zikrullah Khadem
1957 18 Nov	The Hands of the Cause conducted a memorial meeting for Shoghi Effendi in the Haram-i-Aqdas. [BW13:341; MoC35]	Akka	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Haram-i-Aqdas; Bahji
1957 19 Nov	Nine Hands of the Cause were chosen by Rúhíyyih Khánum to examine Shoghi Effendi’s apartment. [BW 13:341] They were the five members of the International Bahá’í Council (Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Ugo Giachery and Leroy Ioas), an Afnán (Hasan Balyuzi), a representative of the Hands of the Western Hemisphere (Horace Holley), a representative of the Hands of the African continent (Músá Banání) and the Trustee of the Huqúqu’lláh (‘Alí Muhammad Varqá). [BW13:341] After seeing that the seals were intact, the Hands examined the contents of Shoghi Effendi’s safe and desk. [BW13:341] The nine Hands signed a document testifying that no Will or Testament of any nature executed by Shoghi Effendi had been found. This was reported to the entire body of Hands assembled in the Mansion of Bahjí. [BW13:341] See CB378–9 for an explanation of why Shoghi Effendi left no Will.	Haifa; Bahji	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; International Bahai Council; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Ugo Giachery; Leroy Ioas; Hasan Balyuzi; Horace Holley; Musa Banani; Varqa, Ali-Muhammad
1957 25 Nov	A proclamation was issued stating that Shoghi Effendi left no heir and made no appointment of another Guardian. [BW13:341–5; MC25–30] See LOG310 for an explanation of the various meanings of the word ‘Guardianship’. See CB388–9 for a discussion of the continuation of the institution of the Guardianship.	Haifa; BWC	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Covenant (general); Hands of the Cause, Activities; Guardianship; Custodians; Appointed arm; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded
1957 25 Nov	Nine Hands were chosen to serve as Custodians of the Faith residing in the Holy Land. [BBD57; BW13:342; DH215] The Hands residing in the Holy Land were established as a legal body under the title ‘The Custodians of the Bahá’í World Faith’. The Hands chosen as first Custodians are Rúhíyyih Khánum, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Leroy Ioas, Hasan Balyuzi, ‘Alí Akbar Furútan, Jalál Kházeh, Paul Haney and Adelbert Mühlschlegel. [BW13:345–6; MC40–1]	Haifa; BWC	Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Custodians; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Charles Mason Remey; Amelia Collins; Leroy Ioas; Hasan Balyuzi; Ali Akbar Furutan; Jalal Khazeh; Paul Haney; Adelbert Muhlschlegel; Appointed arm
1957 Nov-1963 Apr	Interregnum Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi the international administration of the Faith was carried on by the Hands of the Cause of God with the complete agreement and loyalty of the National Spiritual Assemblies and the body of the believers. This was in accordance with the Guardian’s designation of the Hands as the “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth.” [Message of 9 March 1965] The beginning of the six year ministry of the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land, or ‘Custodians’. [BW16:90; WG45–6] This period is known as the ‘interregnum’. [BBD 120] See BW14:467 for a summary of the work of the Hands of the Cause during this period. The International Bahá’í Council continued to perform its duties at the World Centre under the direction of the Custodians. The appointed Council was replaced by an elected Council at Ridván of 1961. All National Assemblies and Regional National Assemblies participated in the election by postal ballot. [BBD118] See alsoThe Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963: An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause.	Haifa; BWC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Custodians; Interregnum; Ministry of The Custodians (book); International Bahai Council; Universal House of Justice; Shoghi Effendi, Passing of; Appointed arm; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Covenant (general)
1958 21–24 Mar	The second Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade convenes in Sydney, Australia. [BW13:319] Hand of the Cause Charles Mason Remey, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative and who was the architect of the Mother Temple of Australasia, attended, accompanied by four other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:317] For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC72–5. For a report of the conference see BW13:319–21.	Sydney; Australia; Australasia	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Charles Mason Remey; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Sydney; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Design; Architecture; Architects
1958 2–4 May	The third Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade convened in Wilmette, Illinois. [BW13:323] Hand of the Cause Dr Ugo Giachery, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by four other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:323] For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC90–8. For a report of the conference see BW13:323–5. See Notes by Emma Maxie Jones and Anonymous.	Wilmette; Illinois; United States; America	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Ugo Giachery; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade
1958 25–29 Jul	The fourth Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade and convened in Frankfurt, Germany. [BW13:327] Amelia Collins, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by ten other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:327] For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC102–6. For a report of the conference see BW13:327–9.	Frankfurt; Germany; Europe	Amelia Collins; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade
1958 21 Sep	Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas arrived in Indonesia and was plunged into negotiations regarding the holding of the conference. He met with local Bahá’ís and anointed them with attar of roses as they passed to the room to view the portrait of Bahá’u’lláh. [BW13:331–2]	Indonesia	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Leroy Ioas
1958 27 – 29 Sep	The fifth Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade and convened in Singapore. [BW13:331] Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by eight other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:331–2] For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC111–6. For a report of the conference see BW13:331–2.	Singapore; Asia	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Leroy Ioas; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade
1958 21–28 Nov	The Second Conclave of the Hands of the Cause convened at Bahjí. [BW13:347–8; MoC55-125] It was attended by 25 of the 27 Hands of the Cause. [BW13:347; MoC118] The Hands of the Cause called for the election of the Universal House of Justice at the time of the Most Great Jubilee in 1963. [BBRSM129; BW13:351; MoC122] Picture of the Hands gathered in the house of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.	Akka	Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Most Great Jubilee; Centenaries
1959 14 Jun	The Hands of the Cause announced that the remains of the cousin of the Báb had been identified and had been transferred to a cemetery. [MC161]	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities
1959 23 Oct - 1 Nov	The third Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was convened at Bahjí. [BW13:351; MC127-173] For the agenda of the meeting see MC163–4. Charles Mason Remey unsuccessfully attempted to convince his fellow Hands that the Guardianship should continue. [BBRSM130; MC217]	Akka	Bahji; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Charles Mason Remey; Guardianship; Covenant-breakers
1959 4 Nov	The Hands of the Cause issued a message from their third Conclave. [MC166–70] The date for the election of the Universal House of Justice was fixed at Ridván 1963. [MC166] They called for the election at Ridván 1961 of 21 national spiritual assemblies in Latin America. [MC167–8] They called for the election at Ridván 1962 of 11 national spiritual assemblies in Europe. [MC168] They called for the election at Ridván 1961 of the International Bahá’í Council by postal ballot of the members of the national and regional spiritual assemblies constituted at Ridván 1960. [MC168] The name of Hand of the Cause Charles Mason Remey was missing from the list of signatories to this letter. [MC170]	Akka	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Universal House of Justice, Election of; International Bahai Council; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers
1960 5 May	Hand of the Cause Abu’l-Qásim Faizí was sent by the Custodians to France to meet with the National Spiritual Assembly and Bahá’ís of France. [MC197] Initially eight of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly accepted the claim of Mason Remey. After consultation, five members of the assembly continued to support Charles Mason Remey in his claim to be the second Guardian and resigned from the assembly. The five members who sided with Remey were: Joel Marangella, Bernard Fillon, Donald Harvey, Monir Derakhchan and Jaques Soghomonian. The four that remained true to the Covenant were A-M Barafroukhteh, Alain Tamenne, Sara Kenny, and Henriette Samimy. Even though some or maybe all of this group had voted to accept Remey they changed their vote after the meeting with Mr. Faizi. The national assembly was dissolved. [MC203]	BWC; Haifa; France	Guardianship; Covenant-breakers; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Abul-Qasim Faizi; National Spiritual Assembly; Charles Mason Remey; Joel Marangella
1960 12 Jul	Horace Hotchkiss Holley, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Haifa. (b. 7 April, 1887 in Torrington, CT) [MC226-227, BW13:849-858] See FMH58-59 for the story of how he came to believe in the Faith. He had served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States from 1923 until 1959 and as the secretary from 1924 to 1930 and 1932 until 1959. After the passing of the Guardian he served in the Holy Land. [UN110; BN No 347 January 1960 p1] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW13:849–858. For cable from the Hands of the Cause see MC217–18. See also SBR214-247, LoF253-264 and Holley, Horace Hotchkiss by R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram. Some of his is publications: See BEL7.1197 to 7.1233] The Bahá'í Religion: Papers Read at the Conference on Some Living Religions Within the British Empire Papers presented by Horace Holley and Ruhi Afnan. 1925 [BEL7.386] Bahaism: The Modern Social Religion, (1913) [BEL7.1203] Religion for Mankind, (1956) [BEL7.1222] World Unity, Bahá'í, The Spirit of the Age, (1921) [BEL7.1201] Bahá'í Scriptures; Selections from the Utterances of Bahaʼuʼllah and Abdul Baha, (1923 and 1928) The first general book-length compilation of the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Many passages were early and nonauthoritative translations. The book was superseded by Bahá'í World Faith [BEL4.71] Read-aloud Plays, Divinations and Creation, The World Economy of Baháʼuʼlláh The Inner Garden; A Book of Verse The Reality of Man (1931) [BEL3.103] He was a man of enormous capacity. When asked about it he referred to a "zone of energy" in which he sometimes operated when more than normal strength was available to him. [FMH58] See the biography Infinite Horizons - The Life and Times of Horace Holley by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson published by George Ronald 2022.	Haifa; Torrington; Connecticut; United States	Horace Holley; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Bahai Scriptures (book); Drama; Plays; Arts
1960 26 Jul	The Hands of the Cause of God declared Charles Mason Remey a Covenant-breaker. [BBRSM221; MC224–5]	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Charles Mason Remey; Covenant-breakers
1960 18 – 27 Oct	The fourth Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was convened at Bahjí. [MoC177-245]	Haifa; BWC	Bahji; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves
1960 2 Nov	The Hands of the Cause issued a message from their fourth Conclave. [MoC237–44] All the Hands of the Cause were henceforth to render their services on a global, rather than a regional, scale. [MoC239]	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves
1960 18 Nov	Clara Dunn, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Sydney. (b.12 May 1869) [BW13:859; MoC245] For her obituary see BW13:859–62. For cable from the Hands see MoC245. See also SBR153–75. Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. She was one of only eight women appointed. [MoCxxiii] For a biography see The Bahá'í Encyclopedia Project. Remembering Clara Dunn by Melanie Lotfali.	Sydney; Australia	Clara Dunn; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent
1961 Jan - Feb	Hand of the Cause of God Dr Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir traveled to India and demonstrated the principle of mass teaching. [DM172–84; SBBH2:165–7] Mass teaching began in the rural area of Madhya Pradesh among the Hindu population. In 1961 there were 850 Bahá’ís; in 1963 87,000; by 1973 nearly 400,000; and by 1987 about two million. In 1983 45 per cent of all local spiritual assemblies were in India. [BBRSM195; BW13:299]	Madhya Pradesh; India	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Rahmatullah Muhajir; Mass conversion; Mass teaching; Teaching; LSA; Statistics; Growth
1961 3 Apr	Corinne Knight True, Hand of the Cause of God, (b. 1 November 1861 Louisville, KY) passed away in Chicago. She was buried in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. [BW13:846] Find a Grave. For her obituary see BW13:846–9. For cables from the Custodians see MoC257. Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] See also Rutstein, Corinne True George Ronald (1987). See as well Lights of Fortitude p391-407.	Chicago; United States	Corinne True; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent
1961 15 Oct – 2 Nov	The fifth Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was convened at Bahjí. [MoC249-329] For the agenda see MoC298.	Akka	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Bahji
1961 5 Nov	The Hands of the Cause issued a message from their fifth Conclave. [MoC313–23] They called for the election of the Universal House of Justice at a convention to be held in the Holy Land on the first, second and third days of Ridván 1963. [CB392; MoC321] They asked the electors to leave the Hands free to ‘discharge their duties’. [MoC321] The celebration of the Most Great Jubilee, the Centenary of the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh, was to be held in London rather than Baghdád, owing to the situation in the Middle East. [MoC322]	Haifa; Baghdad; Iraq; London; United Kingdom	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Bahji; Most Great Jubilee; World congresses; Centenaries; Universal House of Justice, Election of; UHJ
1962 1 Jan	Amelia Collins passed away in Haifa. (b. 7 June, 1873) [BW13:399, 840; MC12] For her obituary see BW13:834–41. Shoghi Effendi appointed her (publicly) among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For the cable of the Hands of the Cause see MC333. See also Milly by A Q Faizi and PSBW73–106. For a timeline of her life see Shareable Bahá'í Resources. While serving in Haifa she was given 'Abdu'l-Bahá's room. She was the last person to occupy it. [TG231] See Collins, Amelia: The Fulfilled Hope of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Richard Francis for further details of her life. See Remembering ‘Milly’ – A Tribute to Amelia Collins by Yas Taherzadeh. See Milly: A Tribute to The Hand of the Cause of God Amelia E. Collins by Abu'l-Qasim Faizi.	Haifa	Amelia Collins; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; In Memoriam; Milly Collins; Abul-Qasim Faizi
1962. 24 Jul	It was announced that the sixth Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was postponed until April 1963. [MoC362]	BWC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Bahji
1963 9 Apr	The sixth Conclave of the Hands of the Cause of God was convened at Bahjí. For the agenda see MoC404. For cabled message from the Conclave see MoC420.	Akka	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Conclaves; Bahji
1963 7 May	The Universal House of Justice issued its first message to national conventions. [WG4–8] It announced that the body had no officers and that its communications will be signed ‘Universal House of Justice’ over an embossed seal. [WG6] It paid tribute to the Hands of the Cause. [WG5] See the message from the Universal House of Justice dated 26 November, 2007 for a list of accomplishments of the Hands of the Cause during the period between the passing of the Guardian and the election of the Universal House of Justice.	BWC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; UHJ; Universal House of Justice; Universal House of Justice, Letters and messages
1963 9 May	The Hands of the Cause of God passed a resolution regarding the principles that will apply between the body of the Hands and the Hands Residing in the Holy Land and the activities of the Hands in the Holy Land. [MoC426] Five Hands of the Cause were assigned to the Holy Land.	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities
1963 19 May	The Hands of the Cause cabled the annual conventions with the names of the five Hands chosen to reside in the Holy Land: Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, Leroy Ioas, ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan, Paul Haney and Abu’l-Qásim Faizí. [MoC427]	Haifa	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Leroy Ioas; Ali Akbar Furutan; Paul Haney; Abul-Qasim Faizi
1964 Nov	The Universal House of Justice announced that ‘there is no way to appoint, or to legislate to make it possible to appoint, Hands of the Cause of God’. [WG41] For decisions of the Universal House of Justice regarding the development of the institution of the Hands of the Cause of God see WG40–3.	Haifa; BWC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Appointed arm; Universal House of Justice; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline
1965 22 Jul	Leroy Ioas, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Haifa. (b.15 February 1896 in Wilmington, IL). He was known as "the Guardian's Hercules" and was praised by Shoghi Effendi for his "tireless vigilance, self-sacrifice, and devotion to the Cause in all its multiple fields of activity, in 'prodigious labours' and his 'stupendous efforts'. [BW14:291-300, VV7] For his obituary see BW14:291–300. Both of his German-born parents had become Bahá'ís, instructed by Paul Dealy who taught Kheiralla's classes when the demand for such classes became overwhelming in Chicago in 1998. [The Bahá'í Faith: Beginning in North America by Robert Stockman, World Order Vol 18 Issue 4 p24] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For cable of the Universal House of Justice see WG157. For a short biography see LoF265-275. See Leroy Ioas: Hand of the Cause of God by Anita Ioas Chapman, published by George Ronald, 1998 Bahaipedia. Shoghi Effendi named the inner front door of the Shrine of the Báb "Báb-i-Ioas". See The Cause of Universal Peace: 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson for information on his part in the organization of a Race Amity Conference in San Francisco with Ella Goodall Coop and Kathryn Frankland Rabbi Rudolph Coffee, the head of the largest synagogue in the Bay Area..	Haifa; Wilmington, IL; United States	Leroy Ioas; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Anita Ioas Chapman
1966 12 Dec	The Hand of the Cause John Robarts departed Africa from Cape Town after a stay of nearly 13 years. They were recalled from their pioneer post by the Universal House of Justice to help Canada win the goals of the Nine Year Plan. The objective was to raise 154 local assemblies by 1973 but the count had fallen from 68 to only 50, eighteen less than the number won during the Ten Year Plan and 104 short of the objective. [LNW158]	Cape Town; South Africa; Canada	John Robarts; Hands of the Cause
1968 21 Jun	The Universal House of Justice established the Continental Boards of Counsellors to continue the functions of the Hands of the Cause in the protection and propagation of the Faith. [BBD58–9, 97; BW15:611–13; BW17:319; MUHJ4–5; WG141, Mess63-86p130, 21 June, 1968, CEBF112] For details of the eleven Boards and their membership see BW15:612 and WG140–4. Among the eleven people named to the Boards in Africa were three native believers: Oloro Epyeru and Kolonario Oule in Uganda, and Seewoosumbur-Jeehiba Appa in Mauritius. For pictures of the Counsellors see BW15:614, 615, 618, 619, 622, 623, 625, 627. For a history of the development of the institutions of the International Teaching Centre and the Continental boards of Counsellors see BW20p673-693.	BWC; Haifa	Universal House of Justice; Counsellors; Hands of the Cause; Appointed arm; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants
1968 7 Jul	The passing of Hand of the Cause Hermann Grossmann in Neckargemünd, near Heidelberg, (b.16 February, 1899) [BW15p416-421] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent of Hands of the Cause on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For his biography see Hermann Grossmann: Hand of the Cause of God, A Life for the Faith by Susanne Pfaff-Grossmann. For his obituary see BW15:416–21. For cable of the Universal House of Justice see BW15:416 and WG157–8. Alternatively see Mess63-86p135.	Neckargemund; Germany	In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Hermann Grossmann
1968 2 Sep	Tarázu’lláh Samandarí, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Haifa. (b.1874 in Qazvin, Persia) Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW15p410-416. For cable of the Universal House of Justice see BW15:416 and WG158–9. Bahá'í Chronicles. See Moments with Bahá'u'lláh: Memoirs of the Hand of the Cause of God Tarázu'lláh Samandarí translated by Mehdi Samandarí and Marzieh Gail and published by Kalimat Press. Find a grave.	Haifa	Tarazullah Samandari; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam
1971 (In the year)	The ‘Lake Victoria Plan’, a joint venture among the National Spiritual Assemblies of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi designed to carry the Faith to all the peoples and tribes living within Africa’s largest lake basin, was inaugurated at the suggestion of Hand of the Cause Dr Muhájir. [DM96–8]	Lake Victoria; Africa	Rahmatullah Muhajir; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities
1971 1 Jan	The passing of Agnes Baldwin Alexander, (b. 26July 1875 in Hawaii) Hand of the Cause; “the daughter of the Kingdom”, and “the beloved maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection” (‘Abdu’l-Baha); the only Hand of the Cause mentioned in the Tablets of the Divine Plan; The first Bahá'í to set foot on Hawaiian soil; the first Bahá'í to settle in Japan; and the first Bahá'í to teach the Faith in Korea, passed away in Honolulu. (b. 21 July 1875) [BW15:423; VV8] On the 13th of October she received a Tablet from 'Abdi'l-Baha encouraging her to travel to Japan. She arrived in 1914 and remained there for a total of thirty-two years. She lf[PH32] She was appointed a Hand of the Cause on the 27th of March, 1957 after the passing of Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend. [MoCxxiv]eft Japan in 1937 and returned in 1950. For her obituary see BW15:423–30. See Life of Agnes Alexander by Duane Troxel. See A Tribute to Agnes Alexander by Ben Perkins. See An Account of How I Became a Bahá'í and My Stays in Paris in 1901 and 1937: Written at the Request of Mrs. Laura Dreyfus-Barney by Agnes Baldwin Alexander and edited by Thomas Linard.	Honolulu; Hawaii	Agnes Alexander; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Firsts, Other
1971 4 Sep	Músá Banání, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Kampala, Uganda. (b.1886) [BW15:42; VV7] For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles. For his obituary see BW15:421–423. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] A Bahá'í Winter and Summer School was established in the southern part of Ethiopia and named "Banání House" in honour of Hand of the Cause Músá Banání, their "spiritual father". [BW15p187]	Kampala; Uganda	Musa Banani; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent
1973 5 Jun	The International Teaching Centre was established at the Bahá’í World Centre for the purpose of continuing the work of the Hands of the Cause of God into the future. [BBD118–19; BBRSM132–3; BW16:134, 411–14; BW17:322–5; VV16, CEBF200; Wikipedia] For cable of the Universal House of Justice see BW16:413. Hands of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan, Paul Haney and Abu’l-Qásim Faizí and Counsellor members Hooper Dunbar, Florence Mayberry and Aziz Yazdí were appointed. [BW16:413] For pictures see BW16:412 and VV16. The duties and the organization of the International Teaching Centre were deliniated in the Message from the Universal House of Justice of June 8th, 1973. See Wikipedia article for the names of the Counsellor members since its inception.	BWC; Haifa	International Teaching Centre; International Teaching Centre, Members of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Counsellors; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Ali Akbar Furutan; Paul Haney; Abul-Qasim Faizi; Hooper Dunbar; Florence Mayberry; Aziz Yazdi; Appointed arm; - Basic timeline, Expanded
1973 5 Sep	John Ferraby, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Cambridge, England. (b. 9 January,1914) [BW16:511, VV8] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW16:511–12. Wikipedia. Bahaipedia. He was the author of All Things Made New published in 1960 by Allen & Unwin, London.	Cambridge; United Kingdom	John Ferraby; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent
1976 (In the year)	Elizabeth Martin with Chris Lyons made a film called Retrospective, a memoir of Hand of the Cause John Robarts. It included his reminiscences of the Guardian and of the early days of the Faith in Canada. [HNWE36]	Toronto; Canada	Film; Elizabeth Martin; Chris Lyons; John Robarts; Hands of the Cause
1979 16 Sep	Enoch Olinga—Hand of the Cause of God and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh—his wife and three of his children were murdered in Kampala, Uganda. (b.24 June 1926) [BBD 172; BW18:633; LoF471-472] He was buried near the grave of Hand of the Cause Mr Banání with the graves of his wife and children nearby. [CG132] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW18:618–35. See Bahá'í Blog for a tribute to his life. Early in May soldiers had invaded his home and thoroughly sacked it. The president of Uganda was a Nilotic and a native of northern Uganda as were a majority of his army. After taking control of the country they began to take reprisals from rival tribes and those who they thought had supported Idi Amin. [CG127] On the morning of the murders Mr. Olinga and his family had participated in a work detail at the Temple grounds. After the evening meal, a group of soldiers entered their compound and murdered him as well as his wife Elizabeth the children Táhirih and Lennie. [CG130-132] Claire Gung, the "Mother of Africa", had had an extraordinarily accurate dream and had warned Mr. Olinga of his danger. [CG163]	Kampala; Uganda	Enoch Olinga; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Knights of Bahaullah; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent; Persecution, Uganda; Persecution, Deaths; Persecution; Dreams and visions
1979 29 Dec	Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir, Hand of the Cause of God and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh, passed away in Quito, Ecuador. (b. 4 April 1923 in 'Abdu'l-'Azím) [BW18:486, 651] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW18:651–9. See BWNS353 for news of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of his passing in Quito. See also Dr Muhajir: Hand of the Cause of God, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh by Írán Furútan Muhájir. See Bahá'í Chronicles. For stories about Dr Mahájir see Bahá'í Memories. See Academic Wikipedia. See Rahmatu'llah Muhajir: Hand of the Cause of God the Treasure of All Humanity by Richard Francis. A photo. See as well LoF455-461. The 25th anniversary of Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir's death was marked in Ecuador by a Growth and Victories conference and graveside ceremony, including a talk by his daughter Gisu Mohadjer Cook. BWNS353]	Quito; Ecuador; Abdul-Azim; Iran	Rahmatullah Muhajir; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Knights of Bahaullah; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent; BWNS
1980 12 Feb	Hasan M. Balyuzi, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in London. (b. 7 September, 1908, Shiraz, Iran). He was buried at the New Southgate Cemetery London. [BW18:635; VV52, Mess63-86p442] For his obituary see BW18:635–51 and SBBR5:XI–XX. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] See Bahá'í Chronicles for a biography. For a brief biography see Balyuzi, Hasan M. by Richard Francis. For some essays and excerpts from Hasan Balyuzi's work see Bahá'í Library. Find a grave.	London; United Kingdom	Hasan Balyuzi; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Bahai studies
1980 29 Jul	Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away at his pioneer post in Athens, Greece. (b.16 June 1897) [BW18:613; VV52] For his obituary see BW18:611–13. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] Adelbert Milhlschlegel, M.D. (1897-1980) received a Tablet from ' Abdu'I-Bahá and became a close collaborator of Shoghi Effendi who elevated him to the rank of Hand of the Cause. In November 1957 he was asked by Ruhiyyih Khanum to wash and anoint the Guardian's body for burial. Speaking a dozen languages, he taught the Bahá'í Faith in both eastern and western Europe, India, Africa, and South America. Adelbert MiihlschJegel worked on many important translations, wrote a World History, and left a book of poetry. He passed away in Athens and is buried at the foot of the Acropolis. [The German Baha'i Community under National Socialism p30]	Athens; Greece	Adelbert Muhlschlegel; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam
1980 20 Nov	Abu’l-Qásim Faizí, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Haifa. (b.1906) [BW18:659; VV52] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] For his obituary see BW18:659–65. See Conqueror of Hearts: Excerpts from Letters, Talks, and Writings of Hand of the Cause of God Abu'l-Qásim Faizí by Abu'l-Qasim Faizi edited by Shirley Macias.	Haifa	Abul-Qasim Faizi; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent
1982 3 Dec	Paul Haney, Hand of the Cause of God, died in Haifa in an automobile accident. [BW18:617; VV52] Paul Haney was born to Mary (Merriam) Ida Parkhurst and Charles Freeborn Haney on August 20, 1909. His parents were active Bahá’is since 1900 and had been married for seventeen years at the time of Paul’s birth. His mother accredited a portion of his spiritual development to being in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá while a fetus....In letters between his mother, Merriam, and Rúhíyyih Khánum it was indicated that the Master gave him his own name; it was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He was also given the name Paul by the Master to be used in the outside world. In 1919, Corinne True was able to also confirm that the master gave Paul his name. [Bahá'í Chronicles] He had been appointed a Hand of the Cause of God on the 19th of March,1954 following the death of Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker. [MoCxxiv} For his obituary see BW18:613–18.	Haifa	Paul Haney; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
1984 16 Nov	Shu’á’u’lláh ‘Alá’í, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona. (b. 16 November 1889) [BW19:594; VV123] BW19: 159 says this was 17 November. For his obituary see BW19:593–5. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] For a short biography "General" 'Alí see Bahá'í Chronicles. See LoF335-338.	Scottsdale; Arizona; United States	Shuaullah Alai; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent
1986 13 Nov	Zikrullah Khadem (Dhikru’lláh Khádem), Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Skokie, Illinois. (b.1904 in Tehran) [VV123; ZK151] Mr Khadem served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Iran from 1938 to 1960. [LoF362-371] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] See also Khadem, Zikrullah Khadem: The Itinerant Hand of the Cause of God. In 1972 the Universal House of Justice asked Khadem to research and document places and people of historical significance to Baháʼís, which he concluded in 1977 with a 134-volume work that was submitted to the Universal House of Justice. He had called the project a Registry of Bahá'í Holy Places. [LoF369] See In Memoriam in BN No 669 December 1986 p2. Find a grave.	Skokie; Illinois; United States	Zikrullah Khadem; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent
1989 5 Jul	Dr Ugo Giachery (b. 13 May, 1896, Palermo, Sicily), Hand of the Cause of God, passed away while on a visit to Western Samoa. [BINS204:1; VV123] He died while visiting Samoa and was interred on the mountainside at Tiapapata, Apia, in view of the Pacific Ocean. His funeral service was attended by by His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, the Prime Minister of Samoa, four Ministers of Cabinet, four Counsellors, five Auxiliary Board members, representatives of six national communities of the Pacific, and over two hundred believers from many parts of the country. [LoF241) For the cable of the Universal House of Justice see BINS204:1. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] Wikipedia For a short biography see LoF223-242. See Bahá'í Chronicles.	Tiapapata; Apia; Samoa	Ugo Giachery; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent
1990 22 Feb	Jalál Kházeh, (b. 24 February, 1897, Tihran) Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Toronto. He was buried in York Cemetery in Toronto. [BINS219:90] Note: VV123 says it was 20 February. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God on the 6th of December, 1953 after the passing of Hand of the Cause of God Siegfried Schopflocher. [MoCxxiv] See LoF164-167 for a short biography. Find a grave.	Toronto; Canada	Jalal Khazeh; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
1990 29 Sep	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone in Katmandu, Nepal. He was born at Quorn, South Australia on May 5th, 1913. [BINS232:8, VV12, The Bahá'í Encyclopedia, Find a grave] For his obituary see BW20p809-818. Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] See Bahá'í Recollections for an article complete with pictures by Narenda Pande about Mr. Featherstone's last days and funeral. See LoF434-448 for a biography. Find a grave.	Kathmandu; Nepal; Quorn; South Australia	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Collis Featherstone; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent
1991 18 Jun	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, John Aldham Robarts at Rawdon, Quebec. He was born in Waterloo, Ontario 2nd of November, 1901. [VV124] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] See BW20p801-809. For his obituary see BINS250:10. For picture see VV124. For the story of how he came to learn of the Faith see SBR137. See LoF473-495. A 50-minute film entitledRetrospective, a Ciné Bahá’í production, was made as a tribute to the Hand of the Cause John A. Robarts on the occasion of his 40th anniversary as a member of the Bahá‘r' community.	Rawdon; Quebec	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Knights of Bahaullah; John Robarts; In Memoriam; Births and deaths
1992 (In the year)	The publication of the book entitled The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963: An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause was published by the Bahá'í World Centre. [VV122]	BWC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Custodians; Ministry of the Custodians (book); Publications
1992 25 Mar	William Benard Sears, (b.28 Mar 1911), Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Tucson, Arizona. He was buried in East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary Tucson, Arizona. [BINS267; VV124] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] Find a grave. See LoFp496-506 for a short biography. He was the author of several books: All Flags Flying, The NSA of South and West Africa, (1958) A Cry from the Heart: The Bahá'ís of Iran, George Ronald, (1982) God Love Laughter, George Ronald, (1960 and multiple re-prints) The Prisoner and the Kings, General Publishing Company, (1971) Release the Sun, Bahá'í Publishing Trust, (1957) Thief in the Night or The Strange Case of the Missing Millennium, Talisman Books, (1961 and multiple re-prints The Wine of Astonishment, George Ronald, (1963 and multiple re-prints) The Flame; The Story of Lua, (with Robert Quigley), George Ronald, (1972) [BEL7.2354-79]	Tucson; Arizona; United States	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; William Sears; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Third Contingent
2000 19 Jan	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum (born Mary Sutherland Maxwell) in Haifa. She was born in New York on 8 August 1910. [One CountryVol.11,Issue4, Mess86-01p699-700, 19 January, 2000] Shoghi Effendi had appointed her as a Hand of the Cause of God after the passing of her father, Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell on the 26th of March, 1952. [MoCxxiv] See A Tribute to Amatu’l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum by Violette Nakhjavani. Photo of her Resting Place.	Haifa	Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Mary Maxwell; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Basic timeline, Expanded
2003 26 Nov	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Ali Akbar Furútan in Haifa at the age of 98. [BWNS261, BW'03-‘04pg227] Born in Sabzivar, Iran, on 29 April 1905. Moved with his family to Ashgabat in what was then Russian Turkestan (now part of Turkmenistan), and, through his years of school and university, he took an active part in the work of the Bahá'í communities of Ashgabat, Baku, Moscow, and other parts of Russia. In 1930 he was expelled from the Soviet Union during the Stalinist persecution of religion and from that time on played an ever more significant role in the work and administration of the Iranian Bahá'í community. [BW03-04p227-230] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] For a tribute from the Universal House of Justice see message of 27 November, 2003.	Haifa; Sabzivar; Iran; Ishqabad; Turkmenistan; Baku; Moscow	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Ali Akbar Furutan; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; BWNS
2007 22 Sep	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ali-Muhammad Varqa (b.1911 or 1912) at his home in Haifa. Mr Varqa received his name from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in memory of his grandfather, who had been killed for being a follower of Bahá’u’lláh. He was the last survivor of the 27 Hands of the Cause who were alive when Shoghi Effendi passed away in 1957. [BWNS579; One Country] He had been appointed Hand of the Cause on the 15th of March, 1955 after the passing of his father Hand of the Cause of God Jináb-i-Valíyu'lláh Varqá, [MoVxxiv] He was appointed as the last Trustee of the Huqúqulláh, a position also held by his father. During his tenure, the Huqúqulláh expanded its base from a few Iranian believers to include every believer in the world in 1992. He lived in Iran but happened to be away during the revolution in 1979 and never returned. He was accepted as a refugee in Canada and lived there for several years before being called to service at the World Centre. For a short biography see LoF183-187.	Haifa	Varqa, Ali-Muhammad; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Varqa; Hands of the Cause, Institution; Appointed arm; BWNS; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Huququllah

from the chronology of Canada

date	event	locations	tags	see also
1952. 29 Feb	Shoghi Effendi appointed Siegfried Schopflocher among the second contingent of Hands of the Cause of God. [BW12:375–6; CT202–3 MBW20–1; PP254; ZK47] Shoghi Effendi described their two-fold function: propagation of the Faith and preservation of its unity. [BW12:376; MBW21]	Haifa; Montreal, QC	Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause
1953 27 Jul	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]	Montreal, QC	Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Wilmette
1975 4 - 8 Jul	The Ridván Message contained the phrase, "EVIDENCES GATHERING CLOUDS WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION" and the Universal House of Justice called together all the 'high ranking officers' and 'senior administrative bodies' of the Faith in North America for special consultation on the future protection of the Cause" to be held in Wilmette. It was attended by the three Hands of the Cause for North America, Mr Sears, Mr Robarts and Mr Zikrullah Khadem; the four members of the Board of Counsellors, Velma Sherrill, Lloyd Gardner, Sarah Periera, and Edna True; all the members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada and the United States as well as representative of the National Assembly of Hawaii; all of the Auxiliary Board Members in North America and special guest, Counsellor 'Azíz Yazdí of the International Teaching Centre. Although the primary reason for gathering was to discuss the issue of the protection of the Faith there were opportunities for members of the three National Spiritual Assemblies and the Auxiliary Boards to share teaching ideas and to hear of the goals achieved in other areas. [BN Vol 52 No 8 August, 1975 p13-14, CBN Issue 287 Aug/Sept 1975 p1-4]	Wilmette, IL	Conferences; Hands of the Cause; Protection; Continental Board of Counsellors; Auxiliary Board Members
1990. 22 Feb	Jalál Kházeh, (b. 24 February, 1897, Tihran) Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Toronto. He was buried in York Cemetery in Toronto. [BINS219:90] Note: VV123 says it was 20 February. He was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God on the 6th of December, 1953 after the passing of Hand of the Cause of God Siegfried Schopflocher. [MoCxxiv] See LoF164-167 for a short biography. Find a grave.	Toronto, ON	Jalal Khazeh; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Appointments
1991 18 Jun	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, John Aldham Robarts at Rawdon, Quebec. He was born in Waterloo, Ontario 2nd of November, 1901. [VV124] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the third contingent on the 2nd of October, 1957. [MoCxxiii] See BW20p801-809. For his obituary see BINS250:10. For picture see VV124. For the story of how he came to learn of the Faith see SBR137. See LoF473-495. A 50-minute film entitledRetrospective, a Ciné Bahá’í production, was made as a tribute to the Hand of the Cause John A. Robarts on the occasion of his 40th anniversary as a member of the Bahá‘r' community.	Rawdon, QC	Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Knights of Bahaullah; John Robarts; In Memoriam

from the main catalogue

Adíb Tálaqání (Hand of the Cause), by Moojan Momen, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 1 (1985). Brief excerpt, with link to article offsite. [about]
Akhund, Haji (Haji Mulla `Ali-Akbar Shahmirzadi), by Moojan Momen (1995). Short biography of an Iranian Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
Alexander, Agnes: 70 years of service, by Duane Troxel, in Bahá'í News (1983). Biography of a prominent American Bahá'í and Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
Alí Akbar Shahmírzádí (Hájjí Akhund), by Moojan Momen, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 1 (1985). Very brief article, short enough to qualify as "fair use." [about]
Amín Hájjí: trustees of Huqúqu'lláh, by Moojan Momen, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 1 (1985). Very brief article, short enough to qualify as "fair use." [about]
Amin, Haji Abu'l-Hasan, by Moojan Momen (1995). [about]
Ardakání, Hajjí Abu'l-Hasan (Hand of the Cause), by Denis MacEoin, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 2 (1987). Very brief article, short enough to qualify as "fair use." [about]
Authority of the Hands of the Cause to direct the Faith and expel Covenant-breakers, by Universal House of Justice (1997). Authority of the Hands of the Cause assume control of the Faith and eject Covenant-breakers following Shoghi Effendi's passing. [about]
Bahá'í Teachings, Aspects of, by Universal House of Justice (1997). Authenticity of Statements; Mathnavi; Quranic quotations; Marriage Prayer; 'Sun' and 'Moon'; Hands of the Cause; Night of Power; Khatt-i-Badi; Sarcophagus for Bahá'u'lláh; International Bahá'í Library Building; Lunar Calendar and Holy Days; Leiden; Kings. [about]
Bahá'í World, The: Volume 18 (1979-1983), in Bahá'í World (1986). Periodic volumes that survey the global activities and major achievements of the Faith. [about]
Balyuzi, Hasan M., by Richard Francis (1998). Brief bio of this "Hand of the Cause of God, the Treasure of All Humanity." [about]
Child of the Covenant, The: A Study Guide to the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha , by Adib Taherzadeh (2000). A detailed study of the "Charter of Bahá’u’lláh's New World Order." Sequel to the author's Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh. [about]
Collins, Amelia: The Fulfilled Hope of 'Abdu'l-Baha, by Richard Francis (1993). Short biography of a prominent American Bahá'í. [about]
Continental Boards of Counselors, Elucidation of the Nature of, by Universal House of Justice (1972). The nature of the Institution of the Continental Boards of Counselors and its relationship to the Institution of the Hands of the Cause. [about]
Covenant of Baha'u'llah, The, by Adib Taherzadeh (1992). A lengthy study of the Bahá'í Covenant, Bahá’u’lláh's own Will and Testament Kitáb-i-'Ahdí and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the historical events they refer to. Prequel to the author's Child of the Covenant. [about]
Divine Simplicity: Remembering the last Hand of the Cause of God, 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa, by Jack McLean (2008). Biography of Dr. Varqa, partly based on interviews with people who knew him in Iran. [about]
Dunn, Clara and Hyde, by Graham Hassall (2000). Biography of two early Bahá'í teachers and pioneers. [about]
Dunn, Clara and John Henry Hyde, by Graham Hassall, in The Bahá'í Encyclopedia (2009). On the couple who went to Australia in 1920 in response to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for worldwide expansion of the Bahá’í Faith and firmly established it in the Antipodes, designated Hands of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi. [about]
Election and Infallibility of the Universal House of Justice, by Universal House of Justice, in Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1963-1986: The Third Epoch of the Formative Age (1996). Answers to three questions: Why were steps taken to elect a Universal House of Justice with the foreknowledge that there would be no Guardian? Was the time ripe for such an action? Could not the International Bahá'í Council have carried on the work? [about]
Evening with Hands of the Cause, by Varqa Roberts Furutan (n.d.). [about]
Fadil-i-Mazandarani, by Universal House of Justice (1998). Was Fadil-i-Mazandarani declared a Hand of the Cause of God, and on determining if there were other Hands. [about]
Fayzí, Abu'l-Qásim (Hand of the Cause), by Moojan Momen, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 9 (1999). Very brief article, short enough to qualify as "fair use." [about]
Giachery, Ugo: Obituary, in American Bahá'í (1989). Born into a Sicilian aristocratic family, Giachery (1896–1989) migrated to the USA in his 20s, where he met his future wife and became a Bahá'í. The couple returned to Italy in 1947, and he was subsequently appointed as a Hand of the Cause. [about]
H. Collis Featherstone, by Graham Hassall, in Australian Bahá'í Bulletin (1990). Biography of a prominent Australian Bahá'í and Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
H. Collis Featherstone 1913-1990: An Extraordinary, Ordinary Man, by Graham Waterman and Kaye Waterman, in 75 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in Australasia (1996). The life and activities of an Australian Bahá'í and Hand of the Cause. [about]
Hands of the Cause (Ayádí Amr Alláh), by Denis MacEoin, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 3 (1987). Brief excerpt, with link to article offsite. [about]
Hands of the Cause (Ayádí Amr Alláh), by Eunice Braun, in The Bahá'í Encyclopedia (2009). On the institution, established by Bahá’u’lláh, of individuals named by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, charged with protecting and propagating the Bahá’í Faith; one of the two parallel lines of responsibility in Bahá’í administration. [about]
Hands of the Cause of God, by Universal House of Justice and Lilian Ala'i, in Bahá'í World, Vol. 18 (1979-1983) (1986). Six documents from Bahá'í World 18 part four section 2: The Hands of the Cause of God and their functions, their work and travels 1979-1983, Boards of Counsellors and the International Teaching Centre, and tributes by Lilian Ala'i and Ray Hudson. [about]
Hands of the Cause of God (2010). List of mini bios and thumbnail photos of 43 of the 50 Hands of the Cause. [about]
Hands of the Cause of God: Personal Recollections, by Bill Washington (2014). Recollections of A.Q. Faizi, A.A. Furútan, Clara Dunn, Rúhíyyih Khánum, Ugo Giachery, Leroy Ioas, Enoch Olinga, Rahmátu’lláh Muhajir, Bill Sears, Agnes Alexander, John Robarts, Collis Featherstone, and Jalal Khazeh. [about]
Hands of the Cause of God Cannot Appoint a Guardian, by Universal House of Justice (2015). Short letter quoting the Guardian's statement that the Hands of the Cause of God have to ratify the current guardian's appointment of another guardian, and they may also suggest another guardian, but cannot themselves appoint one. [about]
Haney, Paul, by Richard Francis (1998). Brief bio of the life of a Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
Holley, Horace Hotchkiss, by R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram (1995). Biography of a Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
Ibn Abhar, Hand of the Cause, by Stephen Lambden, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 7 (1996). Very brief article, short enough to qualify as "fair use." [about]
Ibn Asdaq, missionary and martyr, by Stephen Lambden, in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Volume 7 (1996). Very brief article, short enough to qualify as "fair use." [about]
Indexes to Bahá'í World volumes: Obituaries, chronologies, contents, illustrations, in Bahá'í World (2013). Seven separate indexes for Bahá'í World, in PDF, Word, and Excel versions. [about]
Legacy of Verse 42 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, The, by Gerald C. Keil (2021). Explores the circumstances under which a reading of Verse 42 which indicates that the line of Aghsan might end prior to the establishment of the Universal House of Justice came to predominate. Includes a memorandum from the Research Department. [about]
Letters to Bahá'í princesses: Tablets revealed in honour of the women of Ibn-i Asdaq's household, by Dominic Parvis Brookshaw, in Lights of Irfan, Volume 5 (2004). A study and translation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's tablets to the daughters of Hand of the Cause of God, Ibn-i Asdaq: Laqá'iyya, Huviyya, Rúhá and Talí`a. Includes various biographies and other tablets. [about]
List of Baha'i Studies and Translations, by Stephen Lambden. A list of content available at Lambden's personal website, Hurqalya Publications, with select links to manuscripts, texts, introductions. Includes Shaykhi and Bábí studies, bibliographies, genealogies, provisional translations. [about]
Martha Root: "Herald of the Kingdom", by Barbara Casterline, in Bahá'í News, 496-497 (1972). Two-part overview of Root's life and a concise history of her travels. [about]
Members of the Universal House of Justice 1963-2014 and Hands of the Cause: Timeline (2003). List of names and dates of all who served on the House of Justice or as Hands. [about]
Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986: Third Epoch of the Formative Age, by Universal House of Justice (1996). [about]
Ministry of the Custodians: An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause 1957-1963, by Universal House of Justice and Ruhiyyih (Mary Maxwell) Khanum (1992). Account of the stewardship of the Hands of the Cause of God from 1957-63, from the passing of Shoghi Effendi to the election of the House, riding the waves of crisis to the moment of victory — the fulfillment of prophecy. [about]
Olinga, Enoch, by Richard Francis (1998). Life of Hand of the Cause of God and "Father of Victories." [about]
Passing of Shoghi Effendi, Ministry of the Hands of the Cause, and Defection of Mason Remey, The, by Shahin Vafai, in The Essence of the Covenant: Features, History, and Implications (2005). [about]
Rahmatu'llah Muhajir: Hand of the Cause of God the Treasure of All Humanity, by Richard Francis (1998). Short biography of a Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
Ransom-Kehler, Keith Bean, by Janet Ruhe-Schoen, in The Bahá'í Encyclopedia (2009). On the American Bahá’í lecturer and world traveler, designated by Shoghi Effendi as the first American Bahá’í martyr, and a Hand of the Cause of God, the first woman to be so named. [about]
Remey, Charles Mason, by Robert Stockman (1995). [about]
Root, Martha, by Richard Francis (1993). Bio of the "Herald of the Kingdom, Lioness at the Threshold." [about]
Ruhiyyih Khanum, by Loni Bramson, in World Religions: Belief, Culture, and Controversy (2011). [about]
Schopflocher, Siegfried, by Will C. van den Hoonaard (1993). Short biography of a prominent Baha''i from a German-Jewish background who served as a Hand of the Cause of God. [about]
Schopflocher, Siegfried, by Will C. van den Hoonaard, in The Bahá'í Encyclopedia (2009). On the Canadian Bahá’í of German-Jewish background named by Shoghi Effendi a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952. [about]
Statement on Mason Remey from the Western Hands of the Faith, by Corinne True and Hermann Grossmann (1960). Background information on the claims of Remey, compiled by the Hands of the Cause of God in the Western hemisphere. [about]
Teaching the Faith, Magic Moments, Meeting Great Souls, by Jack McLean (2012). Autobiography of a prominent Bahá'í scholar, written on occasion of the 50th anniversary of his conversion. [about]
Third Bahá'í Intercontinental Conference, Chicago: Notes, by Emma Maxie Jones and Anonymous (1958). Notes, with comments by Borah Kavelin, Rúhíyyih Khánum, Leroy Ioas, Horace Holley, John Robarts, Ugo Giachery, et al., on topics such as raising funds for Temples, pioneering, Native Americans, reflections on Shoghi Effendi, and Mt. Carmel. [about]
Varqa and Son: The Heavenly Doves, by Darius Shahrokh, in Windows to the Past (1992). History of the family of Varqa, the only family with the distinction of having a grandfather, a father, and a son all named Hand of the Cause. [about]
Varqá, Ali-Mohammad, by Iraj Ayman, in Encyclopaedia Iranica (2017). Brief excerpt, with link to article offsite. [about]
Varqá, Wali-Alláh, by Iraj Ayman, in Encyclopaedia Iranica (2017). Brief excerpt, with link to article offsite. [about]
Varqá and Rúhu'lláh: 101 Stories of Bravery on the Move, by Boris Handal (2020). On the lives of Varqa, the physician and talented poet, and his gifted adolescent son Ruhu'llah, who travelled across Iran to teach the Faith before being martyred in 1896. [about]
Visits of the Hands of the Cause of God to Ireland, by Betsy Omidvaran, in Solas, 3 (2003). An overview of all known visits by the Hands, the highest-ranking officers of the Bahá’í Faith, to Ireland. Review of the many historical sources about this largely-uninvestigated topic. Includes timeline of the visits between 1952 and 1986. [about]

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