In the known history of the world, this was the first time that the Avatar was consecrating the soil of the Western Hemisphere by his presence. To free the birds of his Garden, he was imprisoning them in the cage of his love by journeying to them. And for the first time, Baba candidly disclosed to his followers in England that he was the Avatar, the Messiah, the Christ for whom the world had long been waiting, whereas in India, all his devotees were still referring to him as a Sadguru — a Perfect Master. Although God first appeared in physical form in the East, he first revealed himself to be the Avatar in the West.
That day, Watson said to Baba, "America is the country for a great spiritual worker like you. You must go there. If you permit me, I shall make all the necessary arrangements for you and your group to visit us. On behalf of the American people, I extend my heartiest invitation to you to come to the United States."
Baba expressed his pleasure at Watson's love, but declined his invitation. He said he intended to establish five or six retreats in Europe first and then settle in America. Watson tried to persuade Baba to change his mind. Finally at his constant plea, Baba agreed to go to America. In truth, Baba wanted to visit America all along, but his methods are sometimes not apparent. After Baba accepted his invitation, Watson and his wife prepared to leave for the United States to see to all the arrangements for the Master's visit.
On that day, Watson wrote:
We have decided to leave here on Friday, the 18th. I feel that if I should stay with Baba a year, I could not know him better than I did in the first second that I met him face to face. I knew then he meant universal love. That is God ...
Baba must cut his hair and dress conventionally when he comes to America or he cannot have the influence on the leaders of industry he should. Instead, in his present form, he will segregate around him only the poetasters, the sentimental and the dabblers in new sensations.
Another American link for the Master's work in America was Albert Milo Shattuck. Milo, 25, was a young poet from Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard in 1928, he served as the secretary for a famous travel lecturer, Richard Halliburton, and toured America with him.