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:
