That year, his wife Kecha's childhood friend, Elizabeth Sacalis, who was also a seeker, came from New York to visit, and Henry told her of his inner longings. When Liz returned home, she sent him God Speaks as a Christmas present in December 1955. Henry unwrapped the package in his office and saw Baba's picture. "He looked so ancient, so timeless," Henry remembered. "There was something about that picture. It was instant recognition. He was someone who had that authority, who knew everything there was to know. Someone in whom I could place my confidence. My conviction was 100 percent."
Kashouty had only read the inside flyleaf of the cover when he picked up the telephone, called Liz Sacalis in New York and told her, "Meher Baba is the One. Please find out how we can meet him." Liz had also been deeply impressed by the book. A few weeks later, Liz contacted Henry to say that she had been to the office of Dodd, Mead, and was told Baba had come in 1952 and was not expected again. There was an address in India on the back cover of the book (King's Road, Ahmednagar), so Henry sent a special delivery airmail letter to Baba in which he stated: "Dear Meher Baba, I have your book God Speaks. It has great meaning for me. I want to meet you and I do not think that is impossible." He received a reply that Baba would be in New York the following spring. Kashouty said: "That was the beginning — the beginning of this love affair."
When Baba arrived in America, Henry and his wife Kecha, 24, drove north to New York from Virginia and went to the Hotel Delmonico to meet Baba on 20 July 1956. Kecha had some errands to do, so Henry got out and went inside. He and Liz Sacalis got to the floor where Baba was meeting people and gave their names to John Bass. Here is Henry's account of his first meeting with the one "who knew everything there was to know":