Baba indicated that he would give Kenmore instructions for silence and fasts similar to those given to Eruch and Francis, and his instructions would remain in effect for the next two months. Eruch and Francis' times for silence were changed. Instead of keeping silence daily, they were to observe it only on specific dates from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Baba further stated, "From the 7th [of September], my work will begin with force."
Neither good news nor bad news was to be communicated to him, and all games would stop from that date.
Baba's nephew, Sheroo, arrived at Meherazad on 3 September 1959, at 12:45 P.M., and was permitted to stay for a few days. He had stayed for a few days in August as well. On the 6th, Baba took Kenmore and the mandali to the main house to listen to records.
He remarked, "The music and my explanations will raise you to the sky; then at 1:30 P.M., Aloba will bring you all down! He will be enacting the role of Adolf Hitler. My descriptions will raise you to the sky, and Aloba will bring you back down to earth."
Everyone laughed.
At 1:30 P.M., all the men assembled in the hall. Aloba had strung a curtain across it, operated by a rope. Behind it, he had arranged an artificial microphone. Maps hung behind him, and other material had been placed on a table. A large Nazi swastika flag was draped over the table. Aloba then entered, made up to resemble Adolf Hitler. He began "broadcasting" a speech to his troops in Arabic, Persian and English. Baba and all were delighted with Aloba's enthusiastic performance. He immersed himself in the role, and did all the sound effects himself — a marching band, whistling bullets, bombs exploding, and so forth.
Baba's brother Jalbhai arrived from Poona, and Adi brought him to Meherazad that night. Baba had already retired, but on hearing the sound of the car, he sent Bhau to inquire if Jalbhai had come, and with some instructions for Jalbhai.
Harry Daniel Dedolchow, 32, worked in the merchant marine .1 He had first heard of Meher Baba in 1955 in San Francisco, when he found a copy of Jean Adriel's Avatar at a metaphysical bookstore. When he purchased the book, the owner of the shop, a Mrs. Armstrong, referred him to Ivy Duce for additional information about Baba. Thereafter, Dedolchow began regularly attending the Sufi meetings, where he met Herman Alvarado, Joseph and Kari Harb, Don Stevens and others.
Footnotes
- 1.Dedolchow is pronounced DEEDOL-chow.