Meditation for President Carter 1977 Oct 04

Filed under americas | Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

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On 4 October 1977, the day of USA President Carter’s visit to the United Nations, the Meditation Group met in Conference Room 3 to join in spirit with the President’s highest aspirations for world peace and mankind.

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The programme of prayer and meditation, also marking the President’s birthday on 2 October, included readings from the President’s writings as well as a song written in his honour.

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Mr. Donald Keys, Planetary Citizens: Jimmy Carter , John Kennedy. Carter and Kennedy even the names ring the same. Sometimes a champion of a people, a nation and of the future is nurtured before the public, known by the world. His advantages are familiarity, sophistication, information, friends in high places. Sometimes a champion of a people, a nation, of the future is born in obscurity, nurtured in silence, sequestered entirely as destinies warrant, and bursts on a nation and a world. His advantage is surprise. He is unmarked by the opposition.

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He is unmet by resistance and such a one we have now with us. We had Jack Kennedy. We have Jimmy Carter – a champion who carries the seeds of a better future for humanity and for the world.

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Background Note:

At the invitation of the President Carter / Vice-President Mondale Inaugural Committee, the Meditation Group ushered at the Inauguration Day early morning inter-faith prayer service held on 20 January 1977 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , D.C. The Group gathered at 6 :30 a.m. in the sub-freezing temperature to pass out programmes, seat people and generally help out, for a crowd which grew to 5,000. The 8:00 a.m. service was led by the Rev. Bruce Edwards of the Plains Baptist Church, assisted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. , while Ruth Carter Stapleton, sister of the President, read from the scriptures. (see more on: Participation in the interfaith prayer service as part of inauguration festivities)