The Words of the Fernsler Family
|
|
The Words of the Fernsler Family |
To all of you out there: HELLO: This is Philadelphia Center reporting, with a kaleidoscopic view of our very special city. We hope you will feel closer to our by knowing something about Philadelphia and our work here: We look forward to reading about all the other Centers.
The founders of our "City Brotherly Love" were Quakers; and in line with that tradition, the first Heavenly Soldiers here were also Quakers. In 1965, George Fernsler and Diane Giffin (now Fernsler) made contact with the Unified Family in Washington, D.C. Diane moved away soon to another Center, returning only after the blessing in 1969. George continued alone -- so new to the Principle but unshakable in his determination. After two years Barbara Mikesell came to Philadelphia to join forces with George. Many heard the Principle through them; many came and went until finally one brother, and then a second, joined the Family. The blessing was followed by a whole wave of new members: Philadelphia was on the move!
Last year we bought a house in the western part of the city, within walking distance of the University of Pennsylvania. The house is large enough to hold several more members. Already we have an annex, made up of members living at home, on the other side of the river in New Jersey. We would like nothing more than to be so crowded that we spurt out into a whole galaxy of annexes around the city.
During the first half of this year we are holding a serious weekend workshops for our members on how to teach the Principle. Since not all of our members can come to the Center in the evenings, these workshops seem the best vehicle for training and communication.
A description of Philadelphia Center would not be complete without mentioning one of our newest members, who has surprised us with her witnessing abilities. We get a puppy with the intention that she would protect the Center and be a playmate-guardian for the forthcoming Fernsler baby. In an atmosphere of divine love, our puppy has developed a most affectionate and congenial nature (although divine truth has yet to produce much discipline). In witnessing, so far we have concentrated on students and are trying to form clubs on all the major campuses. This is natural enough since most of our members are students. From time to time we work in church young adult group, the Ferslers are continuing in a liberal church where there are many young families; for the most part, however, we have found too little and too slow a response there. It seems that most religious people have nothing to do with organized religion.
Among younger Americans today there is considerable interest in means of dissolving barriers between persons, in group dynamics and communal living. Thus the fact that our Center functions as a commune is of prime interest to many. Often we are able to draw people to the lectures on this basis alone. The several existing communes around the University of Pennsylvania are among some 30,000 in the U.S.A. To people who are familiar with communes, we are able to speak convincingly of the importance of the Principle as a basis for group living.
Another current concern is ecology -- the interrelation of all living organisms -- and man's abuse of his environment ("...the whole creation is groaning travail..."). This concern provides obvious rapport for witnessing, and some of our members have cooperated with local ecology group for that reason. Also, student government gives members a chance to establish contacts for witnessing and at the same time to contribute substantially to the restoration the campuses. Jim Cowin, who just graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, was instrumental last fall in the overthrow of leftist students intending to radicalize the campus.
Dear Family, we send all our love and prayers for the restoration in each of your mission fields.
We are greet you in our True Parent's name
Diane Fernsler
"And thou Philadelphia, the virgin settlement of this province named before thou was born, what love, what service and what travail has there been to bring thee forth and preserve thee from such as would abuse and defile thee. O that thou may be kept from the evil that would overwhelm thee, that faithful to the God of thy mercies, in the life of righteousness, thou may be preserved to the end. My soul prays to God for thee that thou may stand in the day of trail, that thy children may be blessed of the Lord, and thy people saved by His power."
In 1684, William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia prayed as he was leaving the town for stay in England it and the province of Pennsylvania (named by King Charles II, meaning "Penn's woods.") A huge statue of William Penn now stands atop of tower in the City Hall Plaza marking the center of the city's commercial and cultural life. Buildings are now limited to the height of this statue-about 20 or 30 stories.
Penn, a Quaker guaranteed religious freedom to all who acknowledged God. He dreamed of establishing a model city of God. Penn named his city, Philadelphia, meaning "City of Brotherly Love". He must also have been thinking of the `Church' of Philadelphia, which, according to Revelation Ch. 3, Jesus promised to keep "from the hour of trial."
Peen planned for a "Greene Country Towne" to be laid out in straight tree-lined streets with interspersed parks. The original plan, which encompassed precisely what is now "center city", is still evident, even in the present extension of the city. But pollution of all types threatens the green areas and, indeed, the life of the city.
The famous Liberty Bell with its inscription, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants there of", was cast in 1751 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Penn's granting of his charter of liberties and privileges to Pennsylvania. The message was already inscribed on the bell when it was rung for the Declaration of American Independence in 1776.
Philadelphia was the largest and most bustling city of the American colonies. Benjamin Franklin made Philadelphia his home and left his mark here through a number of significant institutions and organizations founded by him.
When I visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia, I wonder how men may have deliberated over the foundation and destiny of a nation in such a small building. How could so few men set the direction for the new nation? Ordinary men but ones who proved to be great leaders gathered there. Men like Thomas Jefferson from Virginia and John Adams of Massachusetts met there an inspired the colonists to from an independent nation with ideals of liberty far ahead of the times.
Today Philadelphia is the fourth largest city in the country and a chief U.S. port. It has significant cultural attractions, of which the most outstanding is the Philadelphia Orchestra. It has two or three large universities and very many small colleges. The face of the city is being lifted with much construction of new modern buildings, low-income housing, and recreation of part of the colonial section for elegant society living.
Outwardly rather quiet, Philadelphia is seething with hopes and frustrations. Somehow it managed to escape the large scale riots that struck many major American cities in 1967 and 68. But we held our breath of ten during times of extreme tension. Racial tension remains in poor areas along with high unemployment. Unsolved financial problems threaten the school system.
William Penn's prayer that the city be "preserved to the end" and "stand in the day of trial" is threatened with severe disruptions and ultimately frustration. Despite his statue and the limitation on building size, Penn's vision is largely forgotten. But hopefully we can enter the celebration of the national bicentennial in 1976 with confidence and forward energy- in this and every city. We and others must put out a major effort that Philadelphia may continue its progress and renewal, that it may not only recapture and fulfill its original vision but go far beyond it.
In this letter I will try to give you a rough image of the town in which I live as well as of myself. The town is Barrington, a small suburban section of Southern New Jersey. Bordering Barrington is Haddon Heights where Denise and Muriel Schneps live. Their mother's house serves as an "annex" to the Philadelphia Center: in the annex we meet and do all of our teaching. Due to financial difficulties I am presently living at home, and Denise and Muriel are still in high school. Being an annex helps in keeping us an active, coordinated part of the Philadelphia Center, even though it is not possible to live in Philadelphia at present.
My two biggest longings in life have always had a creative outlet: painting and music. Painting indirectly brought me into the Principle because of its awakening inside myself to the workings and wonderful pattern of nature Music was an extension of my painting abilities and can, I suppose, be compared to a hand growing forth from an arm. Without the "Stem" of art to grow from, I don't believe that my music would have developed to its present degree.
Since hearing Principle (May 1969), I have been writing many songs with my younger brother, who plays guitar. These songs pertain directly to Principle.
My brother and I, along with a base guitar player, perform at various coffee houses in the Philadelphia area. We are hoping to get a break in the recording end of the business sometime in the near future.
Music, with the right exposure on a mass scale, can have a pronounced effect upon an entire society. This is why I pray that we can be successful in this endeavor. By the way, the name of our band is "Give and Take."
One last thought: I have a feeling that someday within our lifetime all the Family members of the world will meet in one place, physically as well as spiritually. Our presence is bound to shake the very earth we stand on, and perhaps by that time all of mankind will be aware of the kingdom in its midst.
In the name of our True Parents,
Brian Butler
Divine Principle has found a small group of people to further Father's work in New Jersey. It is a small annex to the Philadelphia Center which is approximately 7 miles away.
We participate in Philadelphia's events (Workshops, prayer meetings etc.). We have learned much from their example and have gained much from their advice.
We are all still students, living at home where we are also teaching at the moment. We attract mostly people our own age have been getting some good results.
We hope to start our own center soon in New Jersey and continue to work closely with the Philadelphia Center and more closely with our loving Father.
People of the earth open your spirits
and your minds
For a new sun is risen
it is the sun of life
and the sun of
God
And a new moon is shining
it is the moon of the new mother of
earth
Together they will show us
New Life