The "Holy Days" of the Peace Mission Movement are observed on September 10, 11 and 12 each year to remember the Dedication of Woodmont in 1953, FATHER DIVINE laying down His Immaculate Body in 1965, and the Dedication of the Shrine To Life in 1968. The door of the Shrine The Portal Of Life Eternal was dedicated in 1970.
Followers and friends of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE look forward annually to this three day Celebration which gives them the opportunity, in addition to their every day reflections, to cogitate on the Great Work and Ministry of FATHER DIVINE, especially during the last 80 years. The Celebration also furnishes them with free access to the Mount Of The House Of The LORD, so they can walk on the Holy Ground for these three days and absorb the gentle, but powerful, restorative therapy which flows from Woodmont.
Presenting the Colors at a Shrine Service
The Celebration began this year with a Holy Communion Banquet served at the Divine Tracy Hotel in Philadelphia on September 10. The handsome, spacious Banquet Hall was filled mostly with followers, who were bubbling over with Praises and Thanksgiving. Their cups were full and overflowing with Blessings from GOD, their FATHER, and they gave HIM all Honor and all Glory.
At each diner's plate there was placed a memento of the Celebration. It was an oversize button, two and a half inches in diameter. On it was a colorful picture of the Manor House, with a blue sky in the background and a green lawn in the foreground. The button was inscribed with the words, "THE MOUNT OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, WOODMONT, 1892" at the top, and "1998, NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK" at the bottom.
The Angels, gleeful for receiving this most appropriate keepsake, happily pinned the button on themselves as they sang and made merry on this first day of the Celebration.
To give more meaning to the Holy Days of 1999, a new Peace Mission publication was conceived namely, The New Day Digest. This publication is nearly letter size, with a few pictures, some in color. It features the Ideas and Ideals of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE. The purpose of this issue is to memorialize the Designation of Woodmont as a National Historic Landmark.
This elegant first issue contains 28 pages and was printed on white, glossy paper. The Manor House is pictured on the front cover and the Shrine To Life on the back cover both in full color. One article tells what a National Historic Landmark is and how Woodmont was chosen to receive this Honor. There is a Sermon by FATHER DIVINE on the predestination of the United States, an article by MOTHER DIVINE on the Law of GOD, and an article on the Work of the Peace Mission Movement.
Anyone who wishes to receive a copy may request it by writing to A D F D Publications, 20 South 36th Street, Suite 103, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3370, USA. There is no charge for it, but donations are accepted.
To further edify the hundreds of people who came to Woodmont on September 12, a table was placed on the walkway to the parking lot, filled with literature on the Peace Mission Movement. The visitors stopped there and were given copies of the various items on the table. They were grateful to receive this added information, and many lingered to talk at length with the hostesses, who found that the guests derived much pleasure from being in the Sacred Atmosphere of Woodmont.
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