1/15/13

January 1971: Baha’i continental conference is held in Liberia – The Universal House of Justice explains the role of the emerging Baha’i community in alleviating the various ills afflicting the people of Africa

January 1971
To the Friends of God assembled in the Conference in Monrovia, Liberia

Dearly loved friends,

The emergence on the African Continent of a widely spread, numerous, diversified and united Baha'i community, so swiftly after the initiation of organized teaching plans there, is of the utmost significance and a signal evidence of the bounties which God has destined for its peoples in this day.

The great victories in Africa, which brought such joy to the Guardian's heart in the last years of his life, resulted from the self-sacrificing devotion of a handful of pioneers, gradually assisted by the first few native believers, all labouring under the loving shadow of the Hand of the Cause Musa Banani. From their efforts there has been raised up an increasing army of African, teachers, administrators, pioneers and valiant promoters of the Divine Cause, whose main task is to bring to all Africa the bounties conferred by the Word of God, bounties of enlightenment, zeal, devotion and eventually the true civilization of Baha'u'llah's World Order.

1/10/13

January 1922: The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha is publically read at His home in Haifa

Forty days after the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha, on 7 January 1922, His Will and Testament was publicly read at His home in Haifa. Emogene Hoagg related to Mrs. De Mille that at least a hundred Baha'i men from various countries attended this unforgettable event. Five or six American and English women, including Emogene, sat among them in the central hall. The oriental women, she recalls, sat in a side room 'out of sight, but near enough to hear'. (De Mille, 'Emogene Hoagg', Baha'i News, October 1973) As 'Abdu'lBaha's secretary read the Will, many people wept. Its impact was tremendous. The Master had placed emphasis on the untold suffering caused by the Covenant-breakers.

'All present accepted the terms of the Will appointing Shoghi Effendi Guardian. There seemed to be no dissenting voice.' (De Mille, 'Emogene Hoagg', Baha'i News, October 1973) (O.Z. Whitehead, ‘Portraits of some Baha’i Women’)