Archives for July 2011

Interview granted by Father Divine at his New York City headquarters on 123rd Street & Lenox Avenue on Wednesday, August 10, 1938 at 8:00 p.m.

          On the occasions of recent acquisitions of property, Demonstrations and Boat Excursions, the press has misquoted FATHER DIVINE to such an extent that it appeared to be a studied effort on their part to misrepresent and minimize His Teachings, as it has been many times in the past.  On this occasion, however, of the recent Boat Excursion, The New York Times, upon hearing that FATHER had said He was misquoted, sent their representative to interview Him with a view to correcting these erroneous versions.  Because of their evidently sincere desire to print the truth, FATHER relaxed His usual rule not to grant interviews to the press, and at His 123^rd Street Headquarters received Mr. Robert S. Bird.  The interview was as follows:  —

Mr. Bird:  Did Mr. Lamb explain to You, Father, that after reading in the afternoon papers about Your statement this morning, that you had been misquoted, I called Mr. Lamb hoping that we could get from You a transcript of your Milton address day before yesterday with the purpose of publishing in full Your own transcript; in other words a transcript of the address which would be satisfactory to You and would not be edited in the slightest way?

FATHER:  “I think that can be arranged.”

Mr. Bird:  This address would be preceded by copy — a paragraph or two paragraphs by way of introduction, and they would perhaps go along like this: that perhaps on an average of once a week or however often you do make a speech: or, FATHER DIVINE addresses His followers and the following is a characteristic message; then mentioning that this message was delivered on such and such a date at Milton-on-the-Hudson.  That would be printed in full except that space limitations would hold it to two thousand words; but I do not think that address would run more than two thousand words.  That is two full newspaper columns.  If by chance the full transcript ran more than that, we would invite You to eliminate whatever part You wanted to in order to bring it within the space of the paper.  Then one other thing.  When I spoke to Mr. Lamb he told me — sincerely I know — that he thought there had been a studied effort to misconstrue Yours words.

FATHER:  “Yes, there seem to be quite a number.”

Mr. Bird:  I assured him that that was not true.  I explained to him that on the occasion of thatMiltonaddress the room was extremely crowded; it was raining outside and everybody crowded inside, and there were no tables for reporters.  We were standing with our papers against the backs of other people; scribbling as fast as we could and there was considerable noise in that room.  The news men were grinding away at the cameras and we did not have time to consult the stenographers afterwards.  We all had to get to theWestern Unionstation to get the story on the wire; so there was some argument amongst us as to exactly what you said and there were some changes; we tried to make our notes jibe with others in order to get it as clear as possible.

FATHER:  “I think it should be so arranged that representatives should be accurate, even as I request the accuracy of My stenographers.”

Mr. Bird:  I think that is very reasonable.

FATHER:  “The same as court stenographers.”

Mr. Bird:  Well, that is true, but I do not take stenographic notes, I have my own system of shorthand.  It is perhaps not a hundred percent efficient but is usually suffices.  Under some circumstances I sometimes miss a word here and there.

[Read more…]

Remarks of Atty. J. Austin Norris Member of the Board of Revision of Taxes, Philadelphia

During Woodmont anniversary celebration whilst in the Tea Room of the Divine Lorraine Hotel, Broad Street at Fairmount Avenue.

September 11, 1958 at 5:43 p.m.

(While FATHER and MOTHER served a few of Their Personal Guests in a little informal service in the Tea Room of the Divine Lorraine Hotel prior to going up to the Penthouse Dining Room, Mr. Norris, well known Attorney, arose to speak as follows:)

Peace, FATHER: (Father replies, “Peace!”) Peace, MOTHER: I’m taking advantage of the opportunity of sitting in here to speak in this room for the first time. I think I have had the privilege of speaking at most of the auditoriums in or near Philadelphia bur this is the first time that I have had the opportunity of being in this most sacred and personal dining room.

FATHER invited me here just an hour or so ago, and, of course, HIS Invitation is a command as far as I am concerned. I have often said in all the eighteen years that I have been associated with the Movement I have never asked FATHER to do any favor that HE has turned me down about; so if it’s midnight, if it’s morning, if it’s noon or afternoon, HIS Request is always a command to me.

I thought here that I might tell you some of the questions and thereby you can measure the concern of the public for the concern of the Movement here– some of the questions that they have asked me because they know that I am FATHER’S Attorney. I think this last year I have had even more questions directed to me than probably any previous year.

[Read more…]

Remarks of the Very Rev. Msgr. J. Skikiewicz, D.C., Pastor of Mary Mystical Rose Church of Chicago, Ills.

During Woodmont anniversary celebration whilst at the Holy Communion table of the Circle Mission Church, Home and Training School, Inc.

764-772 Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

September 9, 1958 at 4:05 p.m.

(Rev. Skikiewicz speaks as follows:)

Peace, FATHER and MOTHER; (Father and Mother reply, “Peace!”) Peace to Everyone: I thank You, Father, for the invitation that You have invited me and all of us here from Chicago to come to see this beautiful Holy Communion Table and receive this Blessing of Yours. I recognize You more than some of them think they do. They speak that they say they see a m-n but I see GOD in expression in actions and in deeds in that Body; being Holy. And the expressions exemplified are for everyone to take and practice in general living; the justice and honesty!

The Peace Mission Movement is one of the greatest things the world could ever understand. You have said in the Constitution of the United States, Freedom. You have inspired in Abraham Lincoln this, and the Bill of Rights and this expression of liberty to all, and to end all of that segregation. You are causing that word to be expressed and understood by everyone, showing them how to live it and practice it. You have given all of those rights to mankind and You have made Freedom a reality to all in this nation and other nations. You have made Heaven on earth. It is the Work of GOD – only GOD could do it – and they should understand that GOD is doing it and not a man! So I thank You, Father, I thank You, Mother, and I thank you all.

 Print This Post

Father Divine’s Interview with three ministers: Rev. Asbury Stromberg, N.Y. East Methodist Conference, Rev. J. E. Bell, Vancouver, B.C. Rev. J. S. Bonnell, Winnipeg, Manitoba at Father’s private office at 20 W. 115^th Street, New York City, N. Y. on Sunday, May 31, 1936 at 9:00 p.m.

Among the thousands who pressed their way into FATHER’S New York City Headquarters, were visitors from many different parts of the world, including one from far-away Korea.  One who came and waited long for a Personal interview with FATHER, was the Reverend Asbury Stromberg, of the New York East Methodist Conference.  He sad the various branches of the Methodist Church, such as the M. E. and the A. M. E., and others, were attempting to come together and eradicate such divisions, but certain factions strongly opposed such action because of racial prejudice.  This, he wanted to discuss with FATHER.

Before this interview was reached in the midst of FATHER’S many Personal Activities, however, two Ministers from Canada arrived, seeking to contact FATHER Personally.  These were Rev. J. E. Bell of Vancouver, B. C., who said he had visited the Peace Mission in Vancouver, and Rev. J. S. Bonnell of Winnipeg, Manitoba.  In order to save time it was agreed that the three Ministers should see FATHER together, and after Rev. Stromberg had discussed with FATHER briefly, the proposed unification of the Methodist Church, the following conversation took place:

FATHER:  I cannot Say how others feel about it, but I feel it is a great step towards bringing about the Universal Brotherhood of man for which we all are contending.

Rev. Stromberg:  People in YOUR Work have no race consciousness.

FATHER:  Well, they have forgotten it, to go that far.

Rev. Stromberg:  They must.

FATHER:  I recalled just then, one of MY Followers testified last evening in one of our demonstrations — where, before he knew ME — he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and he said before he knew ME he would not even use a handkerchief like that.  It was a white handkerchief, don’t you know.  He said he had so much prejudice he did not want anything that was CALLED white.  But since that time he has learned to love every man the same, and risen above races, creeds and colors and such mortal limited conceptions or expressions as that, and he can declare now his at-one-ment with his Maker because he recognizes the at-one-ment with his fellow brethren.  We cannot be one with GOD unless we are willing to be one with our fellow brother.

Rev. Stromberg:  FATHER, may I ask YOU one other question?  What do YOU teach of evil, its nature, and the reality of it?  Is it personal?

FATHER:  It is impersonal.  Yes, it is impersonal, but of course, such impersonal influences can be incarnated in individuals, and the impersonal influence can influence the persons that are brought into subjection to such influences — but it is impersonal.

Rev. Stromberg:  Would YOU say that evil is what happens to us when we are away from GOD, or is it something more positive than that?  When we go away from GOD do we come into something else that is real, that is evil, or is it just the separation from GOD? [Read more…]