I dropped my women off at the terminal entrance of Logan Airport, amid kisses and a promise to see them in twenty-four hours. I parked our car here, at the East Boston airport, as we were scheduled to return together by air. I caught MBTA Silver Line to South Station, for my 11:15 departure.
The beautiful granite structure of South Station was opened in 1899 and within ten years, was the busiest train station in the United States. After good times and hard times and a number of renovations, it is once again a major New England travel hub, second only to Logan Airport where I'd just left my wife Even the iconic clock on the front of the building with its twelve foot face, styled after Big Ben, has been restored and running again.
I even had time to spare for a second cup of coffee before boarding the Acela Express for my five-hour trip to the City of Brotherly Love. The train was clean and comfortable. While the scenery was less than exciting, lunch was available. I had a couple of Sam Adams and a roast beef sandwich and arrived at the 30th Street station in Philadelphia just before four o'clock. I left the station, not sure what to do next.
I had opted not to call ahead but according to Daniel Brennan, Humphries lived at his mission and almost never left. It was a warm late afternoon as I stood out on the sidewalk and looked up at the six massive columns towering above another busy and impressive train station.
While I had an address for Willard Humphries' mission, I wasn't familiar with Philly, so I hailed a cab. Twelve dollars later I was let off at a shabby red brick building in a section of town where no tour busses stop. A dozen or so shabbily dressed men and one elderly woman, similarly attired stood around outside. As I alighted from my cab, they moved as one toward me.
"Help a veteran?" I wasn't sure how to respond. I certainly couldn't fund the whole group. I reached for my largest bill; a fifty. That garnered a lot of attention.
"Here's the deal, guys and girl. You have to split this in a nice democratic fashion. But first you have to earn it by helping this tourist who just arrived in town. I'm interested in Willard Humphries. Do you folks know him?"
They looked at one another until one of the younger looking men was pushed forward, as a spokesman.
"You mean Reverend Will. You don't mean him no harm, do you?"
"No; not at all. I just want to meet with him but I'd like to get a feel for him first."