“The American Ideal of Democracy, of Freedom, Equity, Humanity and Justice for all men, both at home and abroad, is a vision that I must fulfill, for America has pledged Her faith in the Omnipotent One and placed Her land under the guidance and protection of the Almighty.”
1. Americanism.
Followers believe that America, as the amalgamation of all nations, was predestined to be the birthplace of the Kingdom of GOD on earth. they consider the official documents of the United States of America – the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its Bill of Rights and Amendments – were divinely inspired, and that they take their places with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as instruments of the synonymous teachings of Democracy, Brotherhood, Americanism, Christianity and true Judaism. Therefore they are patriotic, law-abiding citizens. Father Divine has said, “the system of rising in opposition to government and to organizations and to different groups and the like that is not according to MY Principle; but it is the amalgamation of all religions and the amalgamation of all organizations by scientifically working cooperatively and working in unison.”
Furthermore, followers believe that the flag of the United States of America shall fly in every land as the universal symbol of Liberty, Unity, Freedom, Equity and Justice, through the eventual acceptance of the Constitution of the United States by all nations.
By His Personal Life of Independence and Brotherhood, Father Divine set the Standard for a real American by being a citizen of the world, without being limited to family, race, nationality or religion. Therefore even in the early thirties He spoke out against the persecution of the Jews in Germany as He did against the harsh treatment of the Scots Boys in Alabama.
Father Divine maintained His freedom of thought and action by repeatedly refusing all financial aid, including grants from both the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and private donations, in one instance for as much as $700,000. He maintained His integrity and stood unwaveringly for His religious and political convictions and could not be influenced by power or money. Father Divine was exceptionally adamant in His refusal to depend on money in any way. See the five affidavits in Chapter 7, Witnesses of the Truth – especially that of John Lamb, in which Father’s own Words on the subject are quoted.
At the same time, He was feeding sometimes as many as 3,000 unemployed daily without charge, and running a free employment agency to help them find work, His goal being to produce a happy, independent citizenry with an understanding of their Constitutional rights and a willingness to help make laws in accord with same. His very presence was an impelling moral force, which caused untold thousands to willingly forsake violence and crime as a way of life, throw away their weapons and to cooperate constructively for the advancement of others as well as themselves.
From the minds of this nucleus of people believing that Father Divine had ushered in a new dispensation for humanity, a platform for righteous government was drawn up in 1936, and sent to officials of city, state and federal Government, as well as to Heads of Government around the world.
[Read more…]