My trip to Washington Monument to hear Reverend Sun Myung Moon

The ride from New York City to Washington, D.C., on the chartered bus on Saturday morning, September 18, 1976, reminded me of watching a sweet, beautiful rose growing and unfolding its lovable petals. I had heard that about 300 buses would transport the New York delegation. An anticipation of excitement spurred me on my subway trip to the Times Square Station, from which I almost “danced” along the streets to the 4 West 43rd Street Headquarters address of Reverend Moon’s Unification Church, to “grab a seat” on the bus, amid the animated, anxious crowd of my bus-mates.

This gathering was composed of men, women, youths, and children of both sexes and a complete mixture of races, which was heartwarming to me, as I quickly gave a silent thanks to God that this Bicentennial festival attracted all colors in His one-world family. To travel to hear God’s word and congratulations to the United States of America by Reverend Moon was, indeed, a most unusual and special occasion for me. I kept wondering just how I’d feel as I’d ride along the highway — mainly wondering whether this ride would be quiet and full, forcing us passengers to wait until we arrived in the nation’s Capital before any inkling of the mission’s significance would commence.

The reply to my question began revealing itself at once, by means of our two absolutely remarkable bus leaders, Mrs. Sarah Witt who talked to us all the way to famous Washington; and Mr. Arnold, whose heavy voice could tower above the roar of the bus noise along the highway! These two servants of God lovingly unfolded to us, more and more, the tender and careful concern for us which I feel that all true representatives for God should manifest unto each other.

The constant smile in the voice and upon the face of Mr. Arnold assured us that the Unification Church truly offers us a great deal of love and family togetherness. He was the strong, firmly composed pillar for us, as we pushed and scrambled, in an actually wild-with-excitement fashion, to board the bus. His prayer to God, at the very outset of the trip, blessed us and shook our souls and decorum into the calm and spiritual mood becoming for such a religion-oriented trip.

Mrs. Witt put us into a worshipful and yet celebrating mood. Her pep talks were great. Every time she began another little remark or speech to us, I felt that another lovely petal of the flower of this bus ride unfolded itself. She showed a gracious, maternal, floral heart!

The friendliness of this Church is a richness not found just everywhere! The residents in this Church identify themselves as “the family” and upon their first meeting with you, and all subsequent meetings and visits as well, their manner, personality, and conversation convince you that you’ve found the highest order of Christian love and comradeship. This was the impression given me, two or three weeks ago, when I first visited the Harlem segment of the Church, on East 109th Street in Manhattan. I learned then and there how beautiful and sweet our Oriental young men and young women are, for they happened to be on desk duty, etc., on this initial visit of mine. I fell in love with them at once. I’ve made many visits there and at 4 West 43rd Street since then, to talk, rest, enjoy fellowship music, attend their lavish and gratis dinner banquets which featured their remarkable performers on the rostrum, and see Rev. Moon’s “God Bless America” festival on the cinema screen, which he so generously and lovingly presented to New York City at Yankee Stadium. No amount of money could adequately pay for the blessing of these affiliations, which were granted to me and my heart by the wonderful people who “run things” in the Harlem Church and the Headquarters Church. Each time I deal with them, the occasion is an unfolding of God’s love unto me, the same as a flower unfolds its beauty unto our eyes as its petals grow and enlarge every day!

Other “ordinary people,” other Black or Negro or colored people, other New York City “poverty” residents who have many and deep injustices and problems, other people who want to see a here-and-now manifestation of God’s powerful love and kingdom and “family” take form and establishment and assertion upon the face of this earth, can realize the comparable fulfillment of these needs and wants, by responding to Unification Church’s invitation to come in and get happy, acquainted and participate. I feel that this Church has quite a lot to offer New York City spiritually. This City will be interested to learn, also, how Reverend Moon is improving the economy of New York City.

I understand that one very important aim of the Unification Church is to help youths. I love young people and always have, ever since I became a teenager, which was many years ago. God does not give us every blessing at every second of our lives but rather He gears those blessings to our needs and His schedule. I feel that our New York City contemporary youths can very well, now, use the help which Rev. Moon’s Church intends towards the elimination of drug abuse and other degeneracy, notwithstanding the aforementioned fact that Rev. Moon’s Church youths leave jobs open for New York City’s other youths. His youths are occupied in collecting donations, which go right into the economy of this great and wonderful City of New York. Hereby, his youths are giving a valuable service to New York City’s youths, which constructs another unfolding of the flower of helping each other succeed. He encourages and expects his youthful followers to write home to their parents at least once every week. Although the main point of the “God Bless America” festival in Washington was the program given on the rostrum, featuring Rev. Moon’s congratulatory sermon to this country, on its 200th anniversary, followed by the world’s greatest fireworks display, nonetheless, the charming, informative, inspiring hostess-leader service on the bus was a most supportive unfolding, to me, of this Church’s flower of love for all.