Praise the Lord Forever He’s Done So Much for All
Our Father’s sermon given whilst at the holy communion table of the Nazareth Mission Church, Home and Training School, Inc. of Pennsylvania 1600-1614 Oxford street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday eve. & Saturday morning of May 16-17, 1952 at 1:05 a.m.
This truly beautiful and profound Sermon came forth from the SAVIOR of ALL MANKIND shortly after the testimony of one of the Followers, Mr. John Wesley by name, who brought forth many important thoughts to be considered as to the depth and breadth of FATHER’S wonderful Work in tangible form, and for the UPLIFT of HUMANITY in GENERAL!— and vividly depicting the many years it has been going on in just NEW YORK CITY alone!
Mr. Wesley firstly gave thanks to FATHER for the many Blessings extended him down thru the years, and HE also thanked FATHER for MOTHER, the Spotless Virgin Bride; and the marvelous Work going on today! He then told how many years ago during the depression, when thousands were without jobs, he had been nothing but a bum, starving for want of food. He told of having stood, hungry and cold, in breadlines, and leaving the soup kitchens still hungry, until he learned of FATHER DIVINE. There at the Peace Mission he would come, in New York City, at One Hundred and Fifteenth Street, and with thousands of other unemployed, dine sumptuously GRATIS— DAILY! He said he was amazed to see how such good Work could go on and on, and thousands more at that time being fed for a mere ten and fifteen cents a meal! Mr. Wesley brought out many other points for consideration concerning FATHER’S wonderful Work, but concluded by saying that he considered one of the greatest things to him was that FATHER could take a good-for-nothing bum, such as he had been, and completely change him, so that now he is not only healthy, well-fed and prosperous, but is now at a place where, in his line of business he is able to give employment to other men at the rate of sixteen dollars a day, and they didn’t have to wait until Saturday to get paid. They could see him any time and get their money!
For this and all the many other wonderful things FATHER has done for him down through the years, as well as for all mankind the universe over, he said, he truly thanked FATHER─ for only through HIM could such have been accomplished!
Shortly after this testimony, the inspirational song herein recorded was sung, after which FATHER gave this soul-stirring Sermon.
THANK YOU, BELOVED SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND!
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber after which is firstly recorded the song sung just before FATHER arose to speak.)
Praise the LORD forever,
Forever and forever,
Praise the LORD forever,
HE’S done so much for me!
Praise the LORD forever,
Forever and forever;
I cannot help but praise HIM,
HE set me free!
(FATHER Speaks as follows:)
PEACE, EVERYONE: That little composition is someone’s conviction, and according to the last speaker, I think it’s his! (Loud applause sanction this:)
While listening to his testimony I thought of what I had just said today— in New York City —just in New York City alone, at one time, we were feeding from twenty-five hundred to three thousand persons DAILY, without a nickel!— (Thunderous applause rings out) and feeding UNTOLD THOUSANDS for FIFTEEN CENTS, and the maximum fee at that time was FIFTEEN CENTS! Sold-for meals, from TEN to FIFTEEN CENTS! (“So true, LORD!” came the verification with loud applause.)
I have long since declared, “It is more blessed to give than to receive!” And
“Whatsoever you measure unto others, the same shall be measured to you!” Therefore, sow GOOD SEEDS, everybody, for “You shall reap just what you sow”! Aren’t you glad! (“So
glad, GOD ALMIGHTY!” exclaimed the entire Congregation.)
That thought was stressed in the Actuated Words of Expression form one year to the other. And as Mr. Wesley said, as he and many others who were called bums and hoboes, and a-plenty of them who were not called by such a name but were fed WITHOUT COST, and it was done from year in and year out. Aren’t you glad! (“Yes, so glad, LORD!” came the unanimous declaration.)
Therefore, I say, it is more blessed to give than to receive; for that which you apparently were doing for others, you could not lose! You have not been in lacks, wants nor limitations! You have not been in adverse nor undesirable conditions by so doing! And
through the method as described, thousands and THOUSANDS were sheltered for as little as
ONE DOLLAR and ONE DOLLAR and a HALF PER WEEK, for years and years and
YEARS! (“So true, LORD!” verified the vast Assembly.)
The maximum fee at one time was just a dollar and a half per WEEK, and after then it went up to TWO dollars per WEEK; but not until recently did any of our hotels or apartment houses receive from guests, more than two dollars per week! (“So true! came the verification.)
For the last three or four years, since the dedication of the Divine Lorraine Hotel, the fee went up from TWO DOLLARS to TWO DOLLARS and a HALF PER WEEK; the same hotels and the very same service, as so to speak, that were given and that receive from THREE and a HALF and UP, PER DAY! But under the Peace Mission Movement they could get such accommodations for TWO DOLLARS and a HALF PER WEEK, or FIFTY CENTS A DAY! (Thunderous applause and cheers ring out.) So then I say, it is something to PRAISE GOD for! (“So true, GOD ALMIGHTY” came the unanimous exclamation.)
The Peace Mission Movement by Mother Divine
Foreword
In the year 1884, the History of Montgomery County edited by Theodore W. Bean was published. This was a comprehensive, 1200 page history of Montgomery Country in Pennsylvania, covering the hundred years beginning with 1784 when, on September 10, Montgomery County was established as a political entity.
The Montgomery County Federation of Historical Societies is undertaking a similar history of the second hundred years of Montgomery County, edited by Jean Toll. It is scheduled for publication in 1984.
Editor Toll requested Mother Divine to supply for this work an account of the activities of the Peace Mission Movement which have been carried on in Montgomery County between 1884 and present. Pertinent background information concerning the Work and Ministry of Father Divine prior to its advent in Montgomery County in 1952 has also been included.
Editor Toll supplied all the religious bodies represented in the work with identical guidelines for writing their respective accounts. The following account has endeavored to stay within these guidelines as much as possible. To a certain extent, following the outline limited the describing of the somewhat unorthodox beliefs and practices of the Peace Mission Movement. On the other hand, following the outline brought out various aspects of the Movement about which little was generally known.
The following work differs from the report submitted to the Montgomery County Federation of Historical Societies only in minor revisions and refinements, except for chapters added to Section Two. Section One contains a brief account of the Work and Ministry of Father Divine and the activities carried on by his Peace Mission Movement.
In preparing the manuscript for publication it was thought expedient to give coverage also to certain viewpoints, concepts, situations, proposals and events in the ongoing of the Movement which have provoked much debate without benefit of clear comprehension of factors involved.
These topics are presented in Section Two – for the most part in Father Divine’s own words, or in words that he directly and personally inspired in others, or in Mother Divine’s own words.
The account in Section One serves as a base from which excursions into the topics treated in Section Two may be made. After digesting Section One, the reader will easily be able to weave these topics into the fabric of the Peace Mission Movement.
There may be space in the history to be published in 1984 for only a fragment of this work. However, an unabridged copy will be filed in the County Archives in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
The vignette on the cover is a composite of Peace Mission symbols. At the top is the ascending Dove of Peace mounted in bronze on the interior wall of the Shrine to Life on the Woodmont Estate. The face of the Angel below it is taken from the wood carving between the windows of the Chapel Dining Room at the right of Father’s and Mother’s chairs. The script letter “D” calls to mind the tremendous scope of the Work and Ministry of Father and Mother Divine. “Rosebuds are the young ladies who form the official choir of the Movement – Father always wearing a rosebud on his lapel. Below the Rose is the thirty-two room, French Gothic castle at Woodmont.
Beneath the castle is the Shield of Righteousness which the men’s brotherhood called the “Crusaders” carry in all of their endeavors. Under the Shield is a Lily – the flower of the ladies’ “Lily-Bud” group. At the bottom is the minaret-like Tower whose base is set in the exterior wall of the castle just above the cornerstone. On the sculptured cove at the top of the walls in Father’s Office, the motif is the leaves and fruit of the grape-vine. This motif provides a lattice-work in the vignette on the book cover that supports and is interlaced with the symbols described above – grapes signifying victory.
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Correction and accurate information in reply to Philadelphia Inquirer article April 17, 2011
In response to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer from April 17, 2011 (“At Gladwyne mansion, memories of Father Divine live on”), perhaps you’d like to have some feedback from one of Father Divine’s “Flock”.
Your first impression of feeling Father’s Presence in every room is exactly what makes Woodmont special.
We realize the world is looking at Materialism and Personalities. We are hoping some will look deeper to find the spirituality that is based upon the life and teachings of another unaccepted personality 2000 years ago. -You know who-
Some inaccurate things found in your article are:
1. The tour guide was Margritha Kranich – who came from one of our Peace Mission churches in Germany in 1959 – probably before you came in to this world.
2. The library is close to 5,500 sq. ft. not 4,000.
3. “Isolation from non believing relatives” – what did Jesus require of potential disciples? You failed to mention it in your article.” No man can serve two masters”
Sermon on the mount. Matthew 6-24.
4. Penninah (the first Mother Divine) declared “The Lord has come” in 1913 and that she was married to Father Divine June 6, 1882. That is why historians are not sure of anything!
5. Father’s financial dealings are that He preached the gospel “without purse or script”. He returned all donations directed to himself and NEVER took up a collection – He came as the poorest among men yet making many rich”. Father never owned any real estate or even an automobile. He advocated earning an honest living. “Pay as you go and owe no man.”
6. What could be the reason for people to dedicate their lives to a cause 46 years after their leader apparently left them? Duh.
7. Mr. Hearst sold papers. Need me say more?
8. You said “Defenders praised Father Divine as a civil rights pioneer” could that be because He was in the hands of lynch mobs on 32 different occasions before Martin Luther King was born? Or was it because He “came to America that He might be called an American?” “Not a race, creed or color”.
9. Father was invited to Philadelphia by city and state officials in 1939. It most likely had nothing to do with legal persecution in 1942 – but the city of New York said Father was saving them $3,000,000 annually by taking people off of the relief roll in the early 1930s – you didn’t mention that!
10. Yes, interracial marriage was illegal in Pennsylvania. Think about it where would Obama be today if that degree of ignorance and prejudice were still in vogue? Why isn’t it?
11. You said “Father Divine said He and Ritchins were celibate”. That’s a put down and very disrespectful. Mother Divine’s name “Sweet Angel Divine” was legalized in the naturalization ceremony at Valley Forge Dec. 19, 1977 (200th anniversary of George Washington’s march into Valley Forge).
Father’s words are to the effect “I married my Spotless Virgin Bride to sit by my side to propagate Virtue and Holiness”. The real royal wedding of April 29th took place 65 years ago!
12. In 1952 a relative of J. Hecter McNeil was the surviving heir of the Woodmont estate. Her name was Celeste McNeil. She was not able to maintain the property and was considering demolition by Gleba Brothers of Conshohoken for the cost of $75,000 – apparently she asked her nurse, a follower of Father Divine if the Peace Mission would be interested in purchasing the property – the memebers of the Palace Mission Inc.of N.Y. did – Father and Mother dedicated it as “The Mount of the house of the Lord” Sept. 10, 1953 in fulfillment of the Prophecies of Isiah chapter 2 & Micah 4.
13. You said ” Feeding people was a central part of the mission” yes it was not to mention feeding the people at the time of the Great Depression absolutely gratis in many public dining rooms and later providing meals for 10 and 15 cents feeding thousands for years after the 1940s in many US cities and other countries.
14. The Chapel Dining room is made of oak with carvings of saints from the Chapel of Pope Innocence II of Avignon France.
The Rose Mahogany is the library of the Manor house.
15. “Father Divine’s sermon blares from an old hi-fi” – your diplomacy is underwhelming. Maybe if you get to see the completed library you’ll print a retraction. We don’t sing hymns but hundreds of musical inspirations that have come through many followers over the years.
16. It doesn’t sound like you have much respect for anyone “buried out back”.
17. “not to talk about death” what do you want to know? Yes, we believe in reincarnation. What else?
18. Dr. Primiano, Fred Bissinger, Alan Wood, Frank Hopkinson, Ken Davis and thousands of people around the world are our friends none of whom are worried about who is going to succeed Kathy Boccella when her mom becomes frail! Put that on the front page!
Finally, the ultimate question we should ask is what is God, where is God? What if you add another “O” Go+oD = Father + Mother Divine sounds like a formula for the future to us. Think about it fefore you start writing next time.
Feel free to share this with Sarah Bloomquist (ABC), J.F. Pirro (Main Line Today Magazine) and any other pushy reporter who knows none about the Peace Mission than any of its members! We realize this email is blunt and to the point. Sometimes that’s what it takes as in the case of another Inquirer reporter – I believe his name was Frank Rossi prior to Mayor Greene’s lawsuit. So it’s good to do your homework with an open mind and a spiritual eye – to quote another epic “Those who have ears let them hear, those who have eyes …”
Take no thought for the morrow…St. Matthew Ch. 6 vs.34
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TAKE YOUR CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT OF HEAVEN
Father Divine’s message given at 468-470 Broad Street Bridgeport, Connecticut on Saturday afternoon August 14, 1937 at 5:45 p.m.
The second glorious Message given by FATHER atBridgeport under this date is enlightening to those who are still groping in the darkness of misunderstanding, desiring to be freed from the shackles of mental, spiritual and physical bondage created by undesirable conditions of both the flesh and spirit.
Preceding FATHER’s Words herewith recorded, an angel testified concerning the position on which she is now employed. In substance, she stated that her employers had said they would be willing to accept FATHER as GOD and would be willing to serve HIM wholeheartedly if HE would restore hearing to the deaf ears of one, a mother.
According to her statements, the greatest specialists available had given her up to be incurably deaf for life, and they, in their own belief, had come to the decision that only GOD and GOD alone could give her back her hearing.
In response to this testimony, FATHER gave the following Message, for which we thank HIM.
FATHER Spoke as follows:
PEACE: I was just thinking when you were speaking of the lady being healed; naturally she cannot be healed if she will not believe, or cannot believe—not as readily as she could if she did believe.
Firstly I want to say, the doctors have sentenced her to death and declared this complaint of deafness will last her to death—until death—and she cannot be healed of it. As long as the physicians are in her and in those with whom she is connected, and their versions stand between GOD and herself, naturally those things would be in the way to prohibit GOD from giving her her hearing; but if those things could be moved out—their versions and the versions of others, and all mortal concepts of things could be completely removed—then and there could the Spirit of MY Presence give her her hearing.
Nothing Contrary Can Hold Those Who Are Self-denied
If you notice closely the radical and the fanatical, those who are willing to make a complete self-denial and a wide open declaration concerning GOD’s Actual Presence there is nothing to the opposition or contrary, can hold them, because GOD in their version is a Living Reality, and everything else is beneath HIM; therefore, all other conditions that have resulted in their experiences are conditions of the least consideration; hence, they are completely dispelled when you lift your thoughts above materialism—when you declare your GOD in reality.
When you openly declare GOD and recognize GOD as a Living Reality, GOD to you is made Real and Tangible, and GOD will make REAL those promises to you as well as fulfilling them mentally and spiritually. To the materialists, GOD will be preached materially, and to the spiritual or spiritualists, GOD can be observed spiritually—but GOD can only reach your conditions spiritually and from a spiritual point of view; hence, observe HIM merely as Spirit.
But when you observe GOD as HE IS, filling all space and absent from none, being Visible, Tangible, Practical and Real, GOD can answer your requests and satisfy your desires in all of those different expressions you are seeking.
When There Is No Division among the Nations There Will Be So Much Love and Unity that One Will Not Even Claim Territory as His Own
Our Father’s message at the Hoboes’ banquet No. 204 on West 63rd Street New York City on Thursday afternoon Thanksgiving day, November 23rd, 1939 A.D.F.D. from 6:00 to 12:00 p.m.
The new date for Thanksgiving Day, as set forth by the President of the United States, was accepted by many States, and many people enjoyed this apparently premature holiday. One of the happiest groups, foremost in the acceptance of this change in custom, consisted of members of “The Hoboes of America,” who were guests of FATHER DIVINE, the GREAT SAVIOUR of humanity, at a royal feast at the Sixty-third Street Extension of the Peace Mission. Mr. Ralph Dalton, who heads this organization, has become interested in the great Work of FATHER DIVINE, and has been attending the Righteous Government Forums quite frequently. He discovered, while in the PRESENCE of FATHER DIVINE, the very thing and the only thing that could bring happiness in the lives of “the forgotten men,” the hoboes; and having the interest of these men at heart, he was happy to know that FATHER DIVINE, Who loves all mankind, would receive these unfortunate men as His guests, to a real Thanksgiving Dinner, a Banquet of chicken, duck, turkey with dressing, creamed potatoes, baked macaroni, creamed carrots, greens, pickled beets, other vegetables, many kinds of bread, pumpkin pie, ice cream, and everything that goes to makeup a “real Thanksgiving dinner” including cranberry sauce.
At the regular midday Banquet, at the Madison Avenue Residence, FATHER mentioned this occasion, and gave all who desired to attend “The Hoboes” Banquet the privilege of doing so. However, HE did not state definitely that HE would be present in Person, as there were many things waiting His Personal attention. But being ALL-Compassionate, even as HE was in the Sonship Degree of Expression, HE sacrificed these other things, for the sake of the lowly, and Condescendingly gave HIS time and Service to these “forgotten” men.
Many of these persons who are known as “hoboes” are men whose scholastic ability shows they have come from fine homes, and have had splendid educations. They are, by no means, all base and degraded. Many of them have been radical, with advanced ideas, and finding society a sham, unwilling to support them in their views, they have denounced society, and disinherited themselves from its connection, and have joined the ranks of other unfortunate and under-privileged persons, that they might live their own lives of freedom, unhampered by conventionality and tradition. These men, whose experience is far more varied than that of most persons in society; who have been looked down upon by those called the “elite”; their hearts beat truer and more sincere than some who are robed in costly clothes, and their hearts were filled with appreciation to FATHER DIVINE, for this Christly Expression of love, which was the first time, they stated, during the existence of the organization, that such a benevolent act was tendered them. FATHER served them out of the fullness of His Love, with both the material and Spiritual food, and instructed them in the way of service. KIND SHEPHERD, we sincerely thank THEE.
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, after which FATHER speaks as follows:
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