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By 5 P.M. on Sunday, July 22nd, one hundred and thirty-five guests, mostly from the New York area, but some out-of-town lovers as well, assembled in the large Palm Room
overlooking the garden at Manhattan House. At the head table, Baba's longstanding disciples Margaret Craske, Enid Corfe, Elizabeth Patterson, John Bass and Darwin Shaw were seated with Baba and the four mandali. Baba wore a pink jacket and white sadra. All rose to greet him when he entered at 5:00 P.M.
Filis Frederick recalled those profound moments:
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There was utter silence as all eyes focussed on Baba, radiant as ever and manifestly happy to be with so many of his lovers. As the waiters quietly brought each one a glass of
grape juice and placed the bread on the table, one could not help thinking of this new supper with the Beloved as living "holy communion" with him. We all stood and drank a silent
toast to him. Baba just touched his lips to his glass. Fortunately, the tables were slanted in his direction so all could see him clearly. No one spoke much to his neighbor; Baba
was the main repast.
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Feeling the pull of all our hearts it was not long before Baba, with his unfailing graciousness (as the Divine Guest who is always the Host), had risen and was
walking among the tables, greeting his lovers and devotees here and there with a loving touch, a smile, or a tender look. For many, as he knew, this would be their
last chance to see him before he left the city for the remainder of the tour. The whole room was hushed as every eye followed Baba's quickly-moving figure from
table to table. Necks craned to see him better; faces tilted hopefully forward as he passed by.
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When Baba was seated again, Marion Florsheim took the microphone and formally welcomed him and the mandali, and read a few of the telegrams received from other
groups scattered all over the world. The Hollywood group cabled: "... We happily and gratefully join in spirit with you, with all those present in the one Oneness.
We feel it very fortunate our having Baba visit these shores once more."
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Ivy Duce, Elizabeth Patterson, Margaret Craske, Darwin Shaw, Fred
Winterfeldt and Don Stevens each said a few words of welcome. Baba responded:
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I feel very happy to be with you all today. It is your devotion that made me come to the West during the period of my seclusion. If anything ever
touches my universal heart, it is love. I have crossed the limited earthly oceans to bring to you all the limitless and shoreless Ocean of Divine
Love. Those who do not dare to love me seek safety on the shores. You who love me are swimming in this Divine Ocean. Love me more and more until
you get drowned in me. Dive deep and you will gain the priceless pearl of Infinite Oneness.
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Ivy Duce, Elizabeth Patterson, Margaret Craske, Darwin Shaw, Fred Winterfeldt and Don Stevens each said a few words of welcome.
Baba responded:
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I feel very happy to be with you all today. It is your devotion that made me come to the West during the period of my seclusion. If
anything ever touches my universal heart, it is love. I have crossed the limited earthly oceans to bring to you all the limitless
and shoreless Ocean of Divine Love. Those who do not dare to love me seek safety on the shores. You who love me are swimming in
this Divine Ocean. Love me more and more until you get drowned in me. Dive deep and you will gain the priceless pearl of Infinite
Oneness.
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When Eruch stopped speaking, one could feel the waves of love coming from the focal point in
this Divine Ocean (Baba) and washing almost visibly over them. They sat silent with the Silent One, each person absorbed in his or
her own thoughts of him.
Ben Hayman, Harry Florsheim and John Bass then presented
to Baba a gift, a clock with its hands set on Indian time. Four other clocks for the mandali and one for Mani were set for London,
Myrtle Beach, San Francisco and Australian time zones, the places Baba would be visiting on this tour. Baba was happy as he
accepted the gifts and gave them to the mandali.
Marion Florsheim then asked for a moment of silence, after which a four-tier, white decorated birthday cake was wheeled in. Two
children, a seven-year-old boy named Larry Karrasch and a twelve-year-old girl named Bobbi Ferenz, garlanded Baba and did it again
for the various television and movie cameras recording the event. Baba cut the cake as the room burst into "Happy Birthday!" to
Baba, since they had never had the opportunity of being with Baba on his birthday.
Again, Baba walked around the room, stopping at different tables to greet those not yet contacted. Returning to his seat, Baba said
that those he had missed should now come up to his table for an embrace or handshake. In this way, none of those present missed
having the Master's personal blessing. Hired by Adele Wolkin, an official photographer of the
United Nations, Leo Rosenthal, captured many of these moments in photographs.
One woman describes her experience at the dinner thus: "When Baba came into the dining room and was seated at the table with his
mandali and devotees, one felt suddenly empty of human consciousness and filled with divine effulgence ... The atmosphere of the
room was filled with his divine love. I believe that no one who was present can ever be quite the same again."
Throughout the dinner Alva Coil Denison played some of her own compositions on the piano, including Baba's Prayer of
Repentance sung by John Oliver. David Ross then read selections from God Speaks, "Baba's Sermon" and
"The Religion of Life." Tom Marlow gave a dance performance. In a moment of lightness, the dancer did pantomimes of old
Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford movies.
The reception at Longchamps lasted over two hours. Baba had scarcely eaten; the food on his plate was untouched except for a broken
roll. But as he was leaving, he commented, "I feel no need to eat as the love received from you all was my feast! Take home the little
Baba flags you received on your cake and think of me." Baba then rose and was driven back to the Hotel Delmonico.
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Meher Baba's Life & Travels
1956 - courtesy of "God Alone Is" - video
Meher Baba embracing a young Larry Karrasch
Invitation card without the cover photo.
Artist : Gregg Rosen
Print Version