The Boat House, Krum Elbow
On the occasion of the boat excursion and opening of Divine Greenkill Park on the outskirts of Kingston, N.Y., many persons upon learning there was not sufficient accommodations for all in the hotel, lodges, summer cottages and other quarters in the park itself, preferred to spend the night in the park finding repose in parked automobiles, in the Divine Auditorium and even on the grassy stretches of the lawn rather than travel the short distance into Kingston and get lodging at some commercial hotel. Many slept on the veranda of the Divine Hotel. Some were so thrilled at being on holy ground they did not care to leave it overnight even in order to obtain comfortable sleeping accommodations elsewhere.
There was no complaining, no cross words and no ill effects of the experience apparently. Everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives and considered it a very marvelous lark.
It all reminded one of the common experience of the holy men and masters of India who are disdainful of beds and prefer to sleep summer and winter out in nature, considering dwellings to be but imperfect contrivances for the protection of weaklings.
The next morning many angels could be seen here and there modestly preparing themselves or bathing their feet in the clear bountiful brook which supplies the swimming lake with a continuous change of cool fresh water.
Some would not have traded the experience of sleeping out in the open as FATHER again in His mercy prevented the night from getting chilly, others slept in the various cottages, lodges and family houses located in picturesque places about the park.
A very interesting feature about these lodging places is their Divine evangelical names. The larger dwellings and buildings have double or combination names while the smaller ones have simple single names.
Those which had been named by the date of the opening are as follows: The larger houses for sisters only, "Good Will"; "Way Shower:, "Beautiful Light"; "Morning Star"; "Eternal Love"; Tree of Life" and "Water of Life." The larger buildings for brothers are: "Rose of Sharon"; "Gospel Ship"; "Bright and Morning Star"; "Rock of Ages." The caretaker and family live in the housed called, "Lily of the Valley." The tea room and another building where meals are served are named "Live Wire" and "Stepping Stone."
The smaller cottages have one-word names as follows; "Peace"; "Truth"; "Reality"; "Unity"; Honesty"; "Victory"; "Joy"; "Love"; and "Harmony." A few others are yet to be named.
The Divine Auditorium where the International Righteous Government programs were held during the opening, seats a thousand people, or more, it is estimated.
Since it had been stated in the world Herald by Mr. Madison that the opening should mean more to the true and faithful followers of FATHER DIVINE than any even thus far recorded in the history of the movement and as it has been more than a year and a half since the International Righteous Government Convention, the program on Saturday evening, July 10, was given to considerations of International Government matters. In the afternoon a small conference was held with various attending delegates present. Places as distant as California and Canada were represented.
(Various subjects were discussed at the Conference)
At the evening session motion pictures were shown with many of the extensions in the Promised Land and FATHER shown also.
On Friday, FATHER and a party visited many of the units of the Promised Land, including High Falls, and several others, the beautiful Hope Farm where extensive construction has just recently been completed.
Then the boat, with FATHER on board, left the dock around 9 P.M. for the return trip to New York City.
(Taken from The "Spoken Word" July 27, 1937 A.D.F.D. Pg. 13)