50 Years Since Father Moon’s Historical Rally

50 years since large historical rally at Madison Square Garden, New York, where Father Moon proclaimed “The New Future of Christianity”

50 years ago, on 18^th September 1974, Father Moon delivered his landmark speech “The New Future of Christianity” at a large rally in the indoor arena Madison Square Garden in New York to a capacity crowd of 25,000. This marked a big step forward in his work in the USA. Based on the progress there and the positive reception he had received in this large Christian country, Father Moon felt that there was hope for the world. He also gained new hope that the Christians in his own homeland would begin to cooperate with him.

See also Father Moon’s Washington Monument Rally at 50

At the big rally in Madison Square Garden there was not a single empty seat. It is estimated that as many as 20,000 stood outside without being able to get in. Father Moon spoke about the purpose of the Second Coming of Christ. The media showed great interest in this rally. It certainly helped to make Sun Myung Moon’s name became known throughout the USA.

The New York Times wrote the day after the rally, on 19^th September 1974,

“An overflow crowd filled Madison Square Garden last night and the police said thousands were turned away […] as the Rev. Sun Myung Moon appeared in the culmination of his huge promotion campaign. […]

His chief associate, Col. Bo Hi Pak, translated with force but with less intensity. Both men mopped their foreheads during the talk as they stood behind the double lectern on the red‐carpeted stage.

The Garden was filled to capacity minutes after the doors opened […].

Mr. Moon was interrupted at the start of his talk when he invited “those who oppose me” to “do it now.” Several people in the hall shouted, and a man in a suit and tie waving a leaflet was escorted out by the police.

The shouted words could not be understood. Demonstrators outside the Garden had handed out leaflets for various causes. […]

After the initial interruption Mr. Moon, smiling broadly, said that, after all the excitement, he would like to sing. In a low voice with a rapid and close vibrato, he sang a slow Korean song, hands in the pants pocket, of his dark blue business suit, very much at ease.

His demeanor contrasted with the intensity of his later remarks.” (From “Thousands Crowd Garden to Hear Speech by Moon”, a report by Eleanor Blau in The New York Times 19^th Sep, 1974)

The paper also described how Father Moon explains the fall of the first human beings in the Garden of Eden, how Satan seduced Eve, who then seduced Adam, “spoiling what he said was God‘s plan to have them marry, raise perfect children and perpetuate the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.”

The New York Times also mentioned,

“Although Mr. Moon never said explicitly that he was the Messiah, he said ‘the time of the second coming is near’, and ‘He may not return as you expect Him to return.’”

Time magazine wrote the week after the event,

“It all worked for the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, 54, […] who packed Madison Square Garden to overflowing last week. The happening, complete with numbers by the Korean Folk Ballet, kicked off an eight-city tour that climaxes his drive to build a base in the U.S. just seven years before the Messianic Age is to begin. Moon, through an interpreter, told the Garden-goers in guttural shouts, ‘The time of the Second Coming of Christ is near, and America is the landing site!’” (From “Religion 1974: Moon in Manhattan”, Time Oct.5, 1983)

The large rally in Madison Square Garden marked the start of an 8-city tour where Father Moon after New York speaking in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Before that, that same year, another speaking tour had been held, to 32 cities from 15^th February to 20^th April 1974. Sun Myung Moon spoke for two evenings in each city. On the first evening, he gave a short speech at a banquet, and on the second evening, a longer speech. The theme was “The New Future of Christianity.” In his speech, he urged everyone, especially Christians, to prepare to receive the Lord of the Second Coming.

Thus, Father Moon had now spoken in all the states of the USA. From 1^st October 1973, to 29^th January 1974, a speaking tour had been organized where Father Moon spoke in 21 cities. The theme was “Christianity in Crisis: New Hope.”

Also, starting on 15^th May, Dr. Bo-hi Pak, Father Moon’s translator, embarked on a “Celebration of Life” speaking tour to ten cities in the USA. The tour was meant to prepare for Father Moon’s own tour to eight cities, from 17^th September to 23^rd December 1974.

In fact, the first years Father Moon spent in the USA were primarily used to proclaim God’s new message to humanity. From the beginning of 1972, the USA became the focus of the movement’s activities. With its population from all corners of the world, the USA was a microcosm of our world. Building a foundation in the USA was equivalent to building a global foundation. Therefore, Sun Myung Moon invested much of his time and resources in the USA.

See also Father Moon’s Washington Monument Rally at 50

Text: Knut Holdhus, editor

Featured image above: Sun Myung Moon and his interpreter Bo-hi Pak at Madison Square Garden 18th September 1974. Photo: FFWPU

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