The Mount of the House of the Lord
Comment: Mr. Arthur A. Madison, attorney, who was a guest at the Banquet Table, spoke at this instance, stating that he greatly appreciated the meeting at the Rockland Palace last Sunday and while being there the song, 'FATHER is the Victory,' ran through his mind and he couldn't help thinking how a few years previous someone had rented that very hall for the purpose of putting an end to FATHER'S Work in New York, and how now FATHER is there as a Guest every Sunday, the Hall being hired for HIM! He said that FATHER is the Victory without even having to do anything Personally.
Another point for consideration, Mr. Madison said, was that a few years ago, during the so-called depression, FATHER invited the unemployed in by unlimited numbers to eat, and they did not even have to give their names. They had that privilege not only at one of the extensions but at the various extensions under FATHER'S Jurisdiction throughout the city, and it was not just a few hundred that accepted this invitation either, he states. And now to think that FATHER has made it possible for each one to eat at the same table independently without having a part in the dole system, and in the midst of the burdens of high unemployment, that FATHER'S Spirit is working out for the Followers through that system of cooperation, ways and means of earning their own livelihood and setting before the world a new standard of business ventures and business enterprise. Mr. Madison said that he wished that the Followers would see this feature and be impressed with it as he was, the method whereby without even having to own a dollar, FATHER has made it possible that they can go into places set up by HIS Mind and Spirit and become a part of the earning machinery. This was something worth considering, he said, something that has never before been accomplished, where a man who is nobody and who has nobody to aid him, can become absolutely independent in his work through what FATHER has termed the Cooperative System. It was so wonderful to him, he said, that as FATHER has said, everything that is done is but a sample and an example of what can be done universally and it seemed to him that it was only a matter of a short time when it will have to be done universally. FATHER DIVINE'S Remarks following Mr. Madison's Statement Re: The Cooperative System
"I heard one of the speakers speak of the Cooperative System a little while ago. It was a question brought to MY Attention some time ago in reference to same in part. There are those who consider the joint tenancy or in other words, the joint tenants are in the cooperative business. All places that are purchased and owned by co-tenants, it does not say because they are co- tenants that they are in the cooperative business. They are the co-owners of the personal and real property at times, but they may not be coworkers in the cooperative system of the business! Can you not see the mystery? The same as you may hire a place to open up a business without any knowledge of ME at all. Because you rent a place from the landlord, it does not say the landlord has anything to do with your business. The landlord is the owner of the property, the real property, and you may have a business in the place that you have leased or hired for that purpose. That is the difference between the joint ownership and the Cooperative System that may be working at the same place.
"So these thoughts are well worth considering. But when you live according to MY Teaching, self will be eradicated and gotten completely out of the picture. When this is done, you will live even as I live and be even as I AM! Aren't you glad!
"It is a privilege to be free from every tie that binds by each and everyone living absolutely unselfishly and being consecrated one to the other for one common purpose. By this each and everybody will be ABSOLUTELY INDEPENDENT, as you all are under MY Personal Jurisdiction.
"But there are thoughts that arise from time to time with the consideration of what they can do in a selfish way. If you want to do something selfishly you need not to go in the Cooperative System I mean, altogether for a selfish purpose. If you wish to build up and help others and help yourself in accord with others, it is O.K. if it can be accomplished absolutely unselfishly and one stone will not be left upon another. But that is also to be considered. It is written that one stone shall not be left upon another. One person should not try to make others responsible for his personal, individual obligations, to burden others with his selfish neglection of his obligations. You see the mystery? But if every person will consider firstly to seek the Kingdom of GOD and HIS Righteousness, to live Soberly, Righteously and Godly, absolutely unselfishly, MY Spirit will lead you into all paths of Righteousness and you will not have an occasion to falter nor fail, for the Spirit of MY Presence is Success, it is Prosperity, but you must live and work according to it from every angle expressible."