Rotary Club in Melrose

Shri Nathji was given a welcome by the Rotary Club in Melrose, a suburb of Boston, where he met a building contractor and an Iranian dentist settled in America. The building Contractor would not leave Shri Nathji that day and took him to his house for lunch.
 While on the way to the man’s house, Shri Nathji recollected having left his sun glasses behind at the Rotary Club. The car was turned around and the sun glasses found outside the club premises on the ground. It was Nature’s method of giving the man a few additional moments to serve God.
 "When you speak of God," he asked with typical American innocence on such matters, "do you mean a spirit?"
 Apparently many Americans still thought that Indians worshipped a plethora of gods and goddesses in idol form as a substitute for God. The very concept of idol worship was difficult for them to understand.

Shri Nathji’s explanations thrilled them. His description of idol-worship was also very convincing, and new:
 "An idol merely serves as a reminder of God, the spirit. It is like having a picture of your friend in the house. Each time you look at the picture, you are reminded of your friend.
 “When you talk through a telephone, it is not the telephone you are talking to, but rather the person on the other end of the line.
 “An idol serves a similar purpose for many. The worship they offer to it is directed towards God. Upon set­ting eyes on the image they are reminded only of God and no one else. To that extent, the image serves a useful purpose.
 “God, who is everywhere, and in everything, even in the small­est of atoms, can also exist within an idol of stone. He understands the intention of man, regardless of his mode of worship.
 “He can give to a worshipper the fruits of his devotion through any medium He chooses–even through the medium of an idol. The one who answers prayers is God alone. The idol serves as a useful medium for concentration.
 “When man has advanced further spiritually, he can visualise God within himself. God shall then speak to him from within!"

At the house of the Iranian dentist, Shri Nathji recited the following Persian verses of the poet, Rumi.

"Bishno az nai choon hikaayat mi kunad
Vaz judaayee haa shikaayat mi kunad

Ask of the flute the meaning of its song
It plays the mournful notes of separation,

Taa maraa az naistaan babureedaa and
Az nafeeram mardozan naaleedaa and

Since the time I have been cut from my bamboo stalk
The sound of my song makes men and women cry."

It was strange that Shri Nathji should have chosen to recite Rumi in the Iranian's house. He could have recited from Hafiz or Omar Khayyam or numerous other Persian Poets. The Iranian was surprised, too.
He told Shri Nathji that Rumi had been his favourite poet, and he showed Shri Nathji a large collection of books he had on Rumi.
When Shri Nathji spoke to him he was to receive yet another surprise. The Iranian's father, who had been a spiritual leader in Iran, used to say the very same things!
All through his association with Shri Nathji during the brief visit, he mistook Shri Nathji for an Indian Maharaja and frequently referred to him as "Your Highness."
The President of the Rotary Club joined them for dinner. After listening to Shri Nathji, he said:
"What you say is exactly in line with our Rotary principles."
This was not the first time a Rotary Club member had extolled Shri Nathji’s teachings. Shri Ranjit Singh of Lucknow, who was the President of the Rotary Club in India, was a great devotee of Shri Nathji as also Chaudhri Hyder Hussein who was its Governor.

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. The Melrose Rotary Club is dedicated to public service in Melrose Massachusetts and the surrounding communities. Rotary Club in Melrose was formed in 1921 and was sponsored by the Lynn Club. It was the 1009th club to join what is now a vast international organization.