A Floating Four Position Foundation at Memphis (Tennessee) State University

On July 8, 1974 students at Memphis State University (Tennessee) were flabbergasted to behold four eight foot diameter weather balloons floating in configuration in front of the student center. They were even more amazed to find a young man vigorously pedaling an exercycle at the base of the floating configuration.

Almost everyone’s curiosity was evoked. Hundreds of students and teachers approached the young man in the course of the day to ask him to explain the purpose of his strange occupation. Each of them was greeted cordially and handed an introduction to a new campus organization, the CARP, Collegiate Association for the Research of Principle, and a simple explanation of the principles of dual characteristics and the four position foundation.

Originally, we had planned to send the balloons aloft at the dawn of the first day of the month as a pledge to our Heavenly Father. Due to technical difficulties, however, we were only able to send the “God” balloon soaring in the morning sky before students began arriving for classes. Wishing to surprise the student body, we decided to begin again on the eighth day of the month. So, because we were not able to materialize a complete four position foundation before the students began to arrive, we decided to pull the “God” balloon down.

Helium gas is so expensive, so we tried to store it in the room of our faculty advisor. We carefully ushered it down long corridors past smiling faces (most people united with the balloon instantly because of its size and beauty). But our hopes were dashed when the “God” balloon exploded against a rusty nail in the wall. We grieved in our hearts but were not defeated. Foreseeing similar problems next time, we ordered extra balloons.

On the eighth day of the month the “God” and “Adam” balloons were proudly swaying together in the wind before 6:30 a.m. And then the “Eve” balloon was filled with helium and ready co be tied. She was, however, ripped away by a raging wind and propelled thousands of feet into the morning sky. This time we were prepared for tragedy and quickly filled another balloon and restored “Eve.”

So, when students began arriving, we were positioned in the most strategic location. Everyone saw the four position foundation floating above a young man vigorously pedaling an exercycle. We thought it was an excellent condition because the people came to us and asked us to explain the four position foundation. So we gave each person our explanation.