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Christmas has always been a magical and happy time at Meher Spiritual Center. On December 18, 1965, Kitty Davy wrote to Meher Baba’s sister Mani, “A whole crowd is coming to the Center. This is the first Christmas celebrated at the Center itself on Christmas Day. Also, the first when there have been more than one or two guests at the Center for this holiday.” [I]
In India, that Christmas eve, Meher Baba gave this message, to be issued on February 16 for his birthday that year: “Be composed in the reality of my love, for all confusion and despair is your own shadow, which will vanish when I speak the Word.” [II]
Five years later, Christmas 1970, holiday celebrations at the Meher Center were in full swing. An old program from that date reveals a special program at the Meeting Place on Christmas Eve that included the showing of the last film taken of Meher Baba at Meherazad and a presentation of Francis Brabazon’s new musical poem, “A Singing to Meher Baba, the Eternal Beloved.”
On Christmas day morning there was a program designed especially for children, held at the Saroja Library, including Scripture reading, carols, and poetry reading. That evening there was a light buffet supper in the Refectory followed by a special Christmas program that included Meher Baba’s words, a new film from California, and the playing of Meher Baba’s Arti.
The first Happy Club Christmas children’s party was held in the Meeting Place on December 26 at 2:00 p.m. and included music, film, and games.
The first three members of Happy Club were Bessie Graham’s granddaughters. Bessie was Elizabeth’s housekeeper and a member of the family for many years. She prepared meals for Baba during His three visits to Meher Center, as well as for those attending the Sahavas. Bessie brought the first of the three grandchildren, a newborn at the time, to meet Baba at the 1958 children’s party.
One day in 1965, Wendy (Haynes Connor) accompanied Elizabeth to pick up Bessie and noticed Bessie’s granddaughters playing in the rain and mud. Dismayed by the sight, Wendy asked Elizabeth if the girls could come back to the Center on the following Saturday. It wasn’t long before the girls began bringing cousins and friends, and from there Happy Club snowballed. At fifteen, Wendy hadn’t planned to start a club for children, it just happened spontaneously.
Happy Club, blessed by Baba, was composed mostly of children from four marginalized and disadvantaged black communities in and bordering Myrtle Beach, known as Racepath, the Alley, Harlem (Canal Street) and the Hill.
On December 6, 1966, Wendy wrote to Meher Baba, “Oh Baba—'Happy Club’ it is! The children love the Center with a love that only children can give forth in their sincerity and youth. They embrace the beauty of Your Home in the West with an unquestioning and unhesitating faith. The unbelievable peace of Your Love is ever-present and it never fails to draw the little ones closer and closer into Your arms.” [III]
Jane Barry Haynes, who presided over the Meher Center Board after Elizabeth
Patterson passed, was deeply committed to Myrtle Beach community work. One day word reached Jane about a particular family in dire need, living far outside the city limits. The Lee family, with six children, was living in an abandoned house without running water, with no power, no heat, and little to no food. Jane, along with volunteers, took the Lee family under their wing, and helped the family relocate to a trailer with power and running water. Of course, the children became Happy Clubbers and Mrs. Lee, with her beautiful voice and as choirmaster of the family, would lead the children and adults in singing their favorite Christmas carols.
Happy Club Christmas parties became a tradition. Baba’s beloved devotee Fred Winterfeldt, Caretaker (along with his wife, Ella) and Gatekeeper of the Center, donned a red Santa Claus costume and handed out presents that had been donated and gift-wrapped with care by local community elves. Jane Brown oversaw finding exactly the right gift for the right child. After Fred passed away, Dean Nordquist picked up the mantle and played Santa Claus. Jane Haynes and Center staff would collect the kids and bring them to the Center. Center guests were thrilled to help make the Christmas celebration special.
Happy Club continued to grow in numbers. In fact, Elizabeth would say with a twinkle, Happy Club was “The acorn that bore the mighty oak.” Indeed, it was the seed that sprouted the Community Service Council (founded by Wendy’s brother Charles) and Community Volunteer Services. Many local Baba lovers worked behind the scenes to create a Community Center and preschool, a clinic offering free medical care and a thrift store whose proceeds went to help the communities.
In December 2001, Wendy, along with Center staff and volunteers, organized a Happy Club Reunion. Alumni from 30 years back reunited at the Center with their children for a happy and touching afternoon of reminiscing, songs, stories, and refreshments.
For many years, the Center, volunteers and community donations supported Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for Racepath Community that included food, gifts, and clothing. The gift baskets were delivered with love by members of the local Baba community. Now, as a sign of the times, families are sent a Christmas card with a gift card enclosed.
Phoenix Renaissance, Inc., the 501(c)(3), was founded by Jane Haynes and whose President, Reverend Gause, was once a Happy Clubber, received official approval on February 25, 1994. Still going strong, Phoenix Renaissance programs include a summer camp, after school program and other community programs. As written in the Phoenix Renaissance Mission Statement: “The purpose of the corporation is to develop, promote and sponsor alternatives to the abuse of drugs and the use of violence, by providing programs for local community improvement, such as education, recreation, counseling, housing rehabilitation, career training, creative arts, child development, and family services.”
Every month, the Meher Center writes more than thirty checks to families in need of assistance with their utility bills and other emergency needs. Going forward into 2023 the Center will continue to donate funds for some of Phoenix Renaissance’s ongoing operational needs.
I asked Wendy what that first Happy Club Christmas was like; she described the day in three words: “It was heaven.”
[I] Love Alone Prevails, by Kitty Davy, p. 634
[II] Lord Meher, online edition, by Bhau Kalchuri, p. 5203
[III] Letters of Love, edited by Jane Barry Haynes, p. 403
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