First International Convention

The First International Convention held to elect the Universal House of Justice was held in Haifa from April 21st to 23rd, 1963.

Summary[edit]

The five hundred and four members of the fifty-four National Spiritual Assemblies around the world were eligible to be delegates to the Convention and cast a vote for the House, but only two hundred and eighty eight were able to attend.

After arriving in Israel the delegates visited the Holy Shrines in Haifa and Akka, and the Shrine of the Báb was closed to the public from April 20 to April 24th so that the delegates had access for prayer and meditation at any point during the proceedings. On the evenings of each day of the Convention a group of delegates visited the International Archives building to view Holy Relics and documents.

The Convention began in the House of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at 9:30 am on April 21st. Rúhíyyih Khánum opened the event and explained the voting process and after the recital of two prayers the delegates began filling out their ballot papers. The ballots were submitted by the delegates in the alphabetical order of their Assembly and then their name. After this, nineteen tellers from various countries were appointed and began counting votes while the others went to lunch. In the afternoon the delegates visited the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, and at 4:00 pm a Feast of Ridvan commemorating the Centenary of the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh was held.

The second day of the Convention was opened by Rúhíyyih Khánum at 10:00 am and three sessions were held in the Beit Harofe Auditorium, each presided over by a Hand of the Cause with a delegate leading a discussion. The first session was on the Victories of the World Crusade. At the close of the morning session the membership of the inaugural Universal House of Justice was announced. The second session, beginning at 3:00 pm, was on teaching the faith, specifically regarding mass conversion, home front teaching, and the liberalization of enrollment of new believers. An evening session beginning at 8:30 pm was held on the status of other crusade goals, such as the construction of a Temple in Europe.

The third and final day of the Convention consisted of another three sessions in the Beit Harofe Auditorium presided over by a Hand of the Cause and led by a delegate. These were a morning session and afternoon session on consolidation of the Faith. The morning session focused on the preservation of Local Assemblies, the importance of pioneers remaining at their posts, the establishment and proper use of administration, and the Nineteen Day Feast. The afternoon session focused on protection of the Faith, the importance of firmness in the Covenant, and the public relations of the Faith including meeting attacks, making friends for the Faith, and the need for caution in critical areas.

Election Results[edit]

References[edit]

Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, pp 427-430
Bahá’í News, No. 387, p 5