The Biography of Fred Marks, Meher Baba's "Grand old man of England"
By Sue Chapman.
Softcover, 382 pages.
Taken from Fred's own handwritten notes and a manuscript he gave to Filis Frederick (which was partially published in The Awakener Magazine), this is the story of Fred Marks, one of the fortunate few to spend time with the Avatar during the Three Incredible Weeks.
Born at the turn of the twentieth century, Fred's life was seemingly no different from countless others throughout the United Kingdom. But it would not remain ordinary, and with the passage of time, can be considered exceptional, and entirely worthy of record. This biography is written in tribute to Fred but also, as he might prefer it to be described, as a testament to God, illustrating a spiritual path devoid of dogma or ritual, cult or creed: a path that requires no affiliation to any specific religion. It is written to exemplify that the path towards union with God is a 'simple', if not easy, path of pure love.
Fred was asked to write about his life by Meher Baba's Mandali (or close circle). This he did, but the manuscript was lost for more than forty years owing to the passing of the proposed publisher. Intensely humble, Fred shunned the limelight, and it is rare for one so shy to reveal their inner spiritual journey. Yet Fred's writings make his journey to, and with, God entirely accessible to the reader through its utter simplicity. In so doing, he makes it crystal clear that every one of us may have direct access to God. Moreover, he impresses upon the reader that God Himself is longing for our love and waiting patiently for us to turn to Him.
