December 24. On this date in 1951 Shoghi Effendi appointed his first contingent of living individuals to the station of Hands of the Cause of God.

December 24. On this date in 1951 Shoghi Effendi appointed his first contingent of living individuals to the station of Hands of the Cause of God.

Hands of the Cause of God had previously been appointed by Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá as well as certain deceased individuals named posthumously by Shoghi Effendi. The individuals named on December 24, 1951, included 12 individuals.

Some were wealthy contributors, like Amelia Engelder Collins, who provided funds for the building of the Western Pilgrim House, the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb the International Archives building and the purchasing of the land for the future Bahá'í House of Worship on Mount Carmel.

Another, Ugo Giachery, was born to an Italian aristocratic family and would provide the marble supplies from Italy for the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb and the International Archives Building.

Some were academics, like 'Alí-Akbar Furútan, who is known for his censorship of (devout Bahai scholar) Jinab-i Fadil's academic works.

Valíyu'lláh Varqá was the Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh

William Sutherland Maxwell was an architect who designed the arcade and superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb and was Shoghi Effendi's father-in-law.

George Townshend was an Irish Anglican clergyman who had renounced his orders to the Anglican Church in 1947, at the age of 70.

Charles Mason Remey was the president of the International Bahá'í Council, created in 1951, and architect of the Bahá'í Houses of Worship in Uganda and Australia, and Shoghi Effendi approved his design of the unbuilt House of Worship in Haifa. After Shoghi Effendi's death Charles Mason Remey claimed to be the successor Guardian.