The International Baháʼí Council (IBC) was an administrative institution of the Baháʼí Faith, first created in 1951 as a precursor to the Universal House of Justice, which replaced it in 1963. Formation The following is a January 9, 1951 telex to the Baháʼí world from Shoghi Effendi announcing the Council: Proclaim National Assemblies of East and West weighty epoch-making decision of formation of first International Baháʼí Council, forerunner of supreme administrative institution destined to emerge in fullness of time within precincts beneath shadow of World Spiritual Center of Faith already established in twin cities of 'Akká and Haifa.... In this telex Shoghi Effendi described the significance of the International Baháʼí Council: ...Hail with thankful, joyous heart at long last the constitution of International Council which history will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of Formative Age of Baháʼí Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith on morrow of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's Ascension, ranking second only to glorious immortal events associated with Ministries of the Three Central Figures of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the five thousand century Baháʼí Cycle. Shoghi Effendi also laid out several steps for the IBC's evolvement into the Universal House of Justice: To these will be added further functions in course of evolution of this first embryonic International Institution, marking its development into officially recognized Baháʼí Court, its transformation into duly elected body, its efflorescence into Universal House of Justice, and its final fruition through erection of manifold auxiliary institutions constituting the World Administrative Center destined to arise and function and remain permanently established in close neighborhood of Twin Holy Shrines. (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baháʼí World – 1950–1957, pp. 7,8) The appointed council represented the first international Baháʼí body. Mason Remey was appointed president of the council in March 1951 (prior to his appointment as a Hands of the Cause, which came in December 1951). A further announcement in March 1952 appointed several more officers to the Council and Rúhíyyih Khánum as the liaison between the Council and the Guardian. Evolution Appointed International Baháʼí Council In March 1951 Shoghi Effendi began appointing the membership of the IBC . During its first year, eight men and women were appointed. In 1952 two members had left due to reasons of health. In 1955 Shoghi Effendi appointed a ninth member. The members