To enable the delegates to prepare themselves spiritually for
their great responsibility, arrangements had been made by the Hands of the
Cause, with the cooperation of the International Baha'i Council, for all to
visit the several Holy Places. This was the greatest mass pilgrimage ever to
have been made to the World Centre of our Faith.
On the morning of the 21st of April, 1963, delegates proceeded
to the Master's House at No.7, Persian Street, to discharge their sacred
responsibility in accordance with the text of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
They came from all parts of the globe, representing many
races, peoples, tongues, and cultural backgrounds.
In all, 288 of the 504 eligible delegates were present. Hand
of the Cause Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum called the historic
Convention to order.
On behalf of the Hands Ruhiyyih Khanum carefully instructed the delegates
on the procedure to be followed in the casting of the ballots.
Other Hands of the Cause and members of the International
Baha'i Council watched from an adjoining room.
Tellers were appointed, and as the roll was called
alphabetically by name of National Assembly, the delegates approached the
ballot box.
Among the first was a descendant of the Inca race belonging
to the Bolivian National Assembly.
He was followed shortly by the friends from Central and
East Africa.
Delegates watched intently as the balloting proceeded throughout
the morning. These were precious, never-to-be- forgotten moments when, as
prophesied in the Most Holy Book, the crowning institution of the World Order of
Baha'u'llah was brought into being.
And these were the people whose awesome responsibility it
was to elect the first Universal House of Justice.
All ballots having been cast, the friends left the Master's House
... all except the eighteen appointed tellers who now began the arduous task of
counting the votes.
On the following morning delegates gathered at Beit Harofe
where the remaining Convention sessions were held.
They could see the golden dome of the Shrine of the Báb in the
distance as they entered the meeting rooms.
Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum addressed the first session
and then called for the Tellers' report.
The chief tellers
went to the platform and the delegates applauded.
As the names of
the members of the Universal House of Justice were announced. Each believer
present felt that he had witnessed not only the birth of an institution which
would come to be regarded as the last refuge of...
… a tottering civilization, but also the beginning of a new
and most glorious stage in the evolution of the World Order of Baha'u'liah.
Members of the Universal House of Justice were called to the
platform.
Shortly afterwards the men of the House of Justice retired to
the Shrine of the Báb for prayers and remained to pose for the first official
photographs. From left to right: Mr. Charles Wolcott, Mr. Amoz Gibson, Mr.
Hushmand Fatheazam, Mr. Hugh Chance, Mr. Borrah Kavelin, Mr. Ian Semple, Dr.
Lutfu'llah Hakim, Mr. David Hofman, and Mr. 'Ali Nakhjavani.
('Baha’i World Congress 1963', a filmstrip and script prepared
by the International Baha’iAudio-Visual Centre)
