For weeks, Marion Florsheim and her committee had been planning a dinner for Baba at Longchamps restaurant in Manhattan House on Third Avenue and 66th St.1 For many people, this reception was the highlight of Baba's visit to New York in 1956.
By 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, 22 July, 135 guests, mostly from the New York area, but some out-of-town lovers as well, assembled in the large Palm Room of Longchamps 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 (Adi Sr., Eruch, Nilu and Meherjee). Baba wore a pink jacket and white sadra. All rose to greet him when he entered at 5:00 P.M.
Filis vividly recalled those moments:
There was utter silence as all eyes focused 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.
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.
When Baba was seated again, Marion 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."
Footnotes
- 1.Baba had visited Fred and Ella Winterfeldt's apartment in the Manhattan House complex in 1952.