Our Leader's news from San Francisco and Belvedere

On Sunday noon, February 4, our Leader and his party, plus Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Orme (Pres. of our Church in Great Britain) boarded a plane for San Francisco. “Our Parents were very relaxed, joyful and happy,” Commander Kim reports, “probably because the Heavenly Dispensation was in favor of us, and good things may be waiting in San Francisco”

The Bay Area Family greeted our Leader and his party at the International Pioneer Academy, after which he spoke on “Existence of God and Satan.” He explained that the borderline between good and evil is within the individual, leading to the necessity of religions. In order to overcome evil, one must, through religion, deny the physical body, suffer, witness, and give up oneself. Also, he stressed that the strictest indemnity does not apply to evil persons, but to those in the Abel position; therefore, as God’s representatives, we have to accept our indemnity gratefully in the process of restoration.

In the evening, our Leader spoke about the “Grievous Way of Restoration,” in which he mentioned the vast gap between God’s Will and reality at Jesus’ time.

February 8, 1973, is Our Parents Birthday (Father and Mother were born on the same day). It was the 53rd birthday for Father and 30th for Mother.

At 7:00 AM, the celebration officially began with a special ceremony by selected leaders and blessed couples in the Bay Area. The long, colorful birthday table was piled high with all kinds of foods artistically stacked (made and donated by a Korean Blessed couple living in the Bay Area) and two large birthday cakes, one with the name “One World Crusade” and the other “Unification Church of America.” One of these was cut at that time and the other kept for the evening celebration.

After the members offered congratulations, cards and gifts, our Parents went to the International Pioneer Academy where all the members had gathered. There our Leader spoke on “The Main Source of God’s Love.” In the afternoon the Korean game of “Yute” Was played by two teams. Our Leader was the leader all the women and Mother all the men. Mother’s team won and went to see a movie as a prize.

At 8:30 PM a great celebration was held. All Bay Area Family attended the event which included skits by the Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco centers, excellent music by the “New Age Orchestra” of the San Francisco Church Center, and others, all of which were a great joy to all. After the birthday cakes had been shared by the family members during the entertainment, the day ended with our Parents singing, and three cheers of “Mansei.”

The next day Mr. [Dennis] and Mrs. [Doris] Orme and Rev. Nakamura (Pres. of the Japanese Ecumenical Federation), left for their respective countries. Our Leader had been invited by Hal Parrets to appear on a television show in Minnesota, with traveling expenses paid. Hal Parrets is the former producer of the “Al Capp Show,” on which our Leader appeared in February 1972. Because of the busy schedule, he was unable to accept, but extended his invitation to Mr. Parrets to visit Belvedere.

On the morning of February 10, our Leader held a meeting of all California church center directors, at

which Korean missionary Sang Ik Choi was appointed State Representative and his wife Itinerary worker for California. In the evening, an all Bay Area Family Fellowship Night was held. At the end our Leader and Mother sang, then everyone joined in a Korean dance at our Leader’s urging; 150 Family members stood and joined in dancing. An incredible scene of love, happiness, and joy filled the auditorium.

The next morning pledge service and Sunday service were held, at which Pres. [Young Hwi] Kim gave the sermon. In the evening, our Parents and 25 key members were invited to the Mill’s Brothers Show by Mr. Benjamin Harrison Swig, a Democratic Party key man, businessman, and owner of the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco. Mr. Swig had received our Parents at his hotel n few days before, and showed them great respect and hospitality.

Receiving the key to the City of San Francisco in the Mayor’s Office. L. to R.: Sang Ik Choi, Benjamin H. Swig, our Leader, Chief Administrator Thomas Mellon, Mother, Mrs. Choi, President Kim.

On February 14, at 10:30 AM, the Key to the City of San Francisco was presented to our Leader in the Mayor’s Office by Chief Administrator Thomas Mellon, on behalf of Mayor Alioto, who was out of town. This key is a replica of the first Spanish Catholic Mission Key, nearly 200 years old. Our Leader is the first Korean ever to receive this honor from the City of San Francisco. Mr. Swig was the motivator and initiator in introducing them to Mayor Alioto. Two correspondents for the Korea Times and The Chosun Ilbo were present.

After receiving the key to the City, our Leader and his party went directly to the airport where they boarded a plan for New York.

At Belvedere

Arriving on schedule at New York Kennedy Airport, our Leader and his party were greeted by New York Family and Belvedere staff. After dinner at Belvedere, they met with 22 Dutch and 6 Japanese Family members. The Dutch Family arrived at Belvedere a few days ago and began official training the day after our Leader’s return.

Our Leader on “Master’s Rock” at Belvedere

On February 15, he spoke to the trainees on “Younger Generations,” in which he pointed out the value of youth and their privileges which should be understood by youth. Further, he showed that youth are the

ones on whom depends the nation’s destiny. He warned the trainees not to be influenced by American youth who are in trouble, but to absorb them into the Principle culture and encourage them to be proud of the youth in our Principle Movement.

The next day his topic was “The Way of Life”, in which he defined happiness, pointed out the limitation of happiness in this world, and how it must be connected with Heaven if it is to be real and permanent happiness. In the afternoon our Leader and some of his party visited Mobile Unit #9, under Commander George Edwards, which was campaigning in Philadelphia. All members of the American-European team were much lifted spiritually by the visit.

The next day his topic was “Our Position,” in which he said that human “conscience” has three elements: Intellect, Emotion and Will. Conscience constantly directs forward with purpose and goals. God Himself is a Being of three elements, Intellect, Emotion and Will, so mankind has the same structure. Of the three, Emotion is most important because it is related to Love. Similarly, mankind’s position is highest because we are connected to God’s love.

On Sunday, February 18, a service was held after which our Leader spoke to 35 Japanese members on “The Place We Wish to Go.” Because of the Fall of Man, we are unable to go directly to the place where we wish to go. So, God wanted to establish a new world centering on the Messiah. Also, he distinguished the Unification Church from established churches as Able and Cain’s position, and detailed the role of our Church in God’s dispensation; the prevention of Satan and his forces, the restoration of the cosmos (spiritual and physical worlds). Our course is not a straight line, but zigzag, as we subjugate Satan at each level of individual, family, nation and world. After victory, our “Hopeful Eden” will be established for each of us.

The next day his topic was “The Base of Good and Evil”. He explained that the standard of good and evil must come from Heaven, rather than from the world. Even conscience is not stable enough to give a definite standard of good and evil. What is good? It must be eternal and unchanging, not self-centered, not just for the interests of an individual, but something for the sake of others. The origin of good is God.

On February 20 he spoke on “Restoration of Heart (Shim Jung)” in which he explained that to be restored, one cannot go by oneself, but must go with God, through sacrifice, through faith and through a substantial body (your physical body). Then you can reach the stage of heart. In restoration, the faith must be absolute, never yielding, never changing, eternal.

No change should occur, even under unbearable sufferings and persecutions. How can one restore Heart? 1) Receive God’s love (Father-son relationship); 2) Experience conjugal love (Husband and wife centering on God); and 3) Children’s love (Parents and Children).

On February 21 a special assembly was called for all Dutch and 51 Japanese trainees. Our Leader spoke to them on how Satan and evil forces had infiltrated every stage of this world. Through the conscience of man, God has worked His Restoration Providence for a long time. However, even conscience is surrounded by Satanic circumstances.

Through religion, conscience is strengthened to resist and reject the body’s desires and go the opposite way, as we see in Noah, Abraham and Jacob and other important figures.

Satan is God’s enemy, enemy of Jesus, whom Satan crucified. How can we conquer and gain victory? First by oneness with God, then by oneness with God’s chosen figure, and readiness to bear all crosses for God. Then Satan will automatically surrender and you can be the victor. In the afternoon, our Leader, Mother, and Mrs. [Won Pok] Choi flew to Washington DC to see many government officials and congressmen.

On February 25 the Principle Test was given to the Dutch Family in the morning, and from the afternoon on until the next day FLF Staff continued lie training. Our Leader issued instructions from Washington for a 3-day Special Training for East-Coast OWC commanders, IW’s and State Representatives’, as well as a 100-day Special Training Session, with trainees from many states and nations, to be held at Belvedere starting March 1. On April 1 another 3-day Conference would be held in San Francisco for the West Coast regions.

On February 27 the first shipment of “Insam Cha” (Ginseng Tea) arrived in Belvedere, the beginning of a new phase in our economic work. On February 28 our Leader returned in time to assign all Dutch and Japanese members to the New York Center for 60 days as part of their practical training, consisting of seven teams of 10 members each.

On March 1, the 3-day and 100-day special training sessions began. Our Leader began with a sermon on “Our Determination,” after which, in the afternoon, Pres. [Young Hwi] Kim lectured Unification Principle to the 97 trainees. Pres. Kim used no notes, and was very inspiring to the trainees.

In the evening Our Leader went to the New York Church Center to talk to the Dutch and Japanese members who were all working hard to bring people during the 60-day period.

He emphasized that “atmosphere and environment” are very important in converting new members, as in dress, grooming, and attitude toward newcomers. We should be friendly and respectful, care for newcomers with inspirational singing, prayers, and anything else which will influence them positively.

Our Leader was pleased that our Dutch family does very well in witnessing successfully in downtown New York City. We have many beautiful stories of Americans, Dutch and Japanese witnessing cooperatively, street preaching and selling candles and flowers.

On March 2, our Leader spoke to the trainees on “In Front of Father,” in which he said that there is a vast gap between God’s expectations of us and our cherished ideals. God always wants the best in the whole world because He is absolute. It someone says in front of Father that he wants to go a difficult path for the sake of the whole world, and that he goes with willingness, appreciation, and full responsibility, God can be proud of him and that person will be His son eternally.

If we become part of Father we always go together; we can be His happy children in front of Father eternally. If we reach this stage, God will say “I am yours” to us, and He will come down to us even in the lowest place. The Kingdom of God is the place where such children abide and live. Therefore, in front of God, we must become such children of God, and then everything can be accomplished and success will be ours.

On March 3 our Leader spoke on the topic of “Original Self,” in which he said that one cannot find Original Self externally, but internally from “I”. “Original” means within, not from without. Original nature means unchanging faith, unchanging existence, unchanging action, and unchanging good, which cannot be invaded by anyone or anything. Such an original self must have elements of unchangeability, inviolability, uniqueness and eternity. God says to us “Resemble Me, Like Me, and Love Me.” When we accomplish such a standard, this is the place when one reaches his “Original Self.”

On March 4, He spoke to the trainees on “The Path of Abel,” in which he mentioned that Abel should go beyond sacrifice and offering. Abel must live a life of offering through the Foundation of Faith and the Foundation of Substance. Abel must subjugate Cain and they will go together and fulfill the restoration of Faith, Reality, and Love. Abel must be the pioneer, in every stage of individual, family, tribal, national, and word levels, and become a model to go the “Way of the Cross” in the course of Restoration. Abel must go, not with complaint or discontent, but with thanksgiving and appreciation. Our Heavenly Father will be liberated whenever Abel subjugates Cain on every level.

On March 5, he spoke to the trainees in the morning about his intention for the 100-days training for future leaders. The schedule will be 40 days of intensive study of the Principles, going over it more than six times. The first four presentations will be general and the last two more detailed. Examinations will be given two or three times. Then all trainees will be trained in VOC and Unification Thought for 30 days each. Then nobody will be able to argue with these trainees.

During training the trainees will participate in witnessing at the nearby West Point Military Academy and in the ongoing New York City campaign.

Later in the day our Leader explained and demonstrated the way of conducting a meeting, of maintaining order and dealing with contents in either a small or a large meeting.

This meeting lasted from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. There was singing, prayer, reports from HQ staff, OWC commanders, State Representatives and Church Directors. Many success stories were heard from all levels of the work, and the Ginseng tea project was explained.

On March 6, the attendants of the 3-days special training returned to their centers except for the 100-day trainees, each carrying several cases of Ginseng Tea with them. The 100-day training began the next day. On March 8, a very successful Rally for God was held at Federal Hall in NY.

Commander Kim concluded his memo by saying “Until we meet, keep in mind all of the contents of this memo, and put them into practice.”