Mrs. May Ellis Maxwell—spiritual mother of the Canadian Bahá’í community, became a believer in 1898, visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1899 and returned to Paris to found the first Bahá’í centre on the European continent, married Sutherland Maxwell and settled in Montreal in 1902, achieved “the priceless honor of a martyr’s death” in Argentina in 1940. For a review of the vast range of her contributions to the Faith in Europe and America, see “Bahá’í World” Vol. VIII, In Memoriam.
William Sutherland Maxwell—architect of the Shrine of the Báb, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951, died in Montreal in 1952. His “saintly life” is described in “Bahá’í World” Vol. XII, In Memoriam.
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum Rabbani—daughter of May and Sutherland Maxwell, became the wife of Shoghi Effendi in 1937, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952.
Siegfried Schopflocher—known as “the Temple Builder” because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the West, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952, died in Montreal 1953. For a review of his “numerous, magnificent services” see “Bahá’í World” Vol. XII, In Memoriam.
Emeric and Rosemary Sala pioneered to South Africa, and John and Mrs. Audrey Robarts to Bechuanaland. The first three named were members of the National Spiritual Assembly 1948–53. In 1957 John Robarts was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God.
Maxwell Home, 1548 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec—‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed in this house during his visit to Montreal in 1912. It was given to the Canadian Bahá’í community by Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum in 1953.
Siegfried Schopflocher—known as “the Temple Builder” because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the West, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952, died in Montreal 1953. For a review of his “numerous, magnificent services” see “Bahá’í World” Vol. XII, In Memoriam.
William Sutherland Maxwell—architect of the Shrine of the Báb, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951, died in Montreal in 1952. His “saintly life” is described in “Bahá’í World” Vol. XII, In Memoriam.
Miss Marion Jack—“immortal heroine” and “shining example to pioneers”, who remained at her post in Sofia, Bulgaria from 1930 until her death in 1954. Her imperishable services are recorded in “Bahá’í World” Vol. XII, In Memoriam.
The resurgence of persecution of the Bahá’í community in Írán during 1955 is described in the booklet “Bahá’í Appeal for Religious Freedom in Írán”.