After the April 27, 1996 Preview of the Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary at the Divine
Tracy Hotel on Saturday, other glories were to follow. On Sunday, April 28,
an event took place which was not really scheduled as part of the Fiftieth
Wedding Anniversary Celebration, but which readily lent itself to the Celebration.
The "Friends of FATHER DIVINE'S Peace Mission Movement" are a group of people who are interested in giving some of their time and talents to promoting the ongoing work of the Mission. This group was given a tour in the afternoon of April 28, of the Palace Mission International House at 1430 North Broad Street. Mr. Robert Skaler, a noted Philadelphia architect, lectured the group on structures, and their preservation that were built 100 years ago along Philadelphia's Broad Street, including several Peace Mission properties.
FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE
Later in the day, the Festivities continued with another Preview of the Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary at the Circle Mission Church which FATHER made HIS headquarters for about twenty years - and where HE served hundreds of Holy Communion Banquets and gave many Sermons. Here also HE gave constructive interviews to untold numbers of people.
FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE sat at the head of the Banquet Table, and over Their Heads was a large, white lace parasol which covered, not only FATHER and MOTHER, but also the celebrants next to Them. The dining room was decorated with bridal, white lace parasols. Parasols symbolize the protection that FATHER-MOTHER extend over people who recognize Their Presence and who follow the Teaching. FATHER-MOTHER shelter us and protect us from confusion, prejudice, crime , carnality, graft, sickness and death.
The service was lively and upbeat with hearty singing and pronounced rhythm from the piano and organ-especially the boom of the low bass organ pedal tones. A drill team of a dozen little girls in white with tasseled whit boots gave a smart demonstration. Every small foot hit the floor simultaneously during their precision drill. a recorded Sermon by FATHER DIVINE was hears over the public address system.
When MOTHER DIVINE spoke during the service, SHE recounted what happened fifty years ago on April 29, 1946. Both FATHER and SHE resided at this Church at that time. SHE said:
'We stole away in the wee hours of the morning which was six o'clock. We left from here. We motored to Washington, D.C. where WE had a appointment with Rev. Albert E. Shadd to be married--at 1945 Bennet Place. After the marriage, We went to Baltimore where We had lunch, and it was from there that FATHER called back here to the Circle Mission Church and let His immediate staff know HE had married again.'
MOTHER went on to say:
'As the years have gone by, the Marriage has meant more and more to all those who are consecrated and dedicated to the Work and Mission of FATHER DIVINE, for we really do believe this is what can bring about, not only world peace, but the fulfillment of mankind's desire to live on earth in heaven with GOD, as Jesus taught us to pray to let the Kingdom come.'
Three followers from Switzerland were in attendance at this Anniversary Banquet. Mr. Walter Kunz thanked FATHER-MOTHER for Their protection during a fire in Switzerland. Mrs. Rose Kunz said that they can really feel the Power of the Love that the followers here project into the atmosphere. Mr. Willie Schudel remarked that:
'This morning, MOTHER told us about the Keyflower, and that we should not forget the Best. I thank FATHER that HE blessed me with the Best, because I was born at the right time to know HIM and His Teaching. From all the Swiss children, I bring you wishes for the best Celebration ever of the Fiftieth Anniversary.'
Brother Arnold Hadd is a Shaker from Sabbathday Lake in Maine. He and three other Shakers came to Celebrate with us. He said:
'We are greatly privileged to be here. We have felt that sharing with FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE and the children has strengthened our own spiritual lives and our understanding of the CHRIST Life. It is such a privilege to find people who are sharing the same Ideals as we are in trying to live true to that same CHRIST Ideal.'
At the beginning of the Holy Communion Banquet Service, MOTHER DIVINE spoke to all who had responded to the call. SHE said that Jesus is our Elder Brother, and HE let all mankind know that they are part of the universal Family of GOD, SHE continued by saying to this Family:
'And now we look forward with great enthusiasm and anticipation to the next fifty years, because we want to see GOD'S Plan and Purpose for mankind on this earth plane fulfilled. And that is the Universal Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of GOD, where all will enjoy the abundance of the fullness of all good things.'
Dr. Leonard Primiano was again present on this occasion with his colleagues from Cabrini College in Radnor, where he is Professor of Religion. He has great respect for FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE. HE said of FATHER:
'HE enlightened individuals to righteous living, both within His Community of children and for those living outside. . . . HE inspires men and women to live positive lives. FATHER DIVINE doesn't stop the expression of devotion and the Spirit. HE encourages it through work, through prayer, through study, through everyday life.'
He spoke of the Peace Mission practice of forbidding gifts, even at wedding anniversaries, and added:
'The only gift that FATHER asks us to consider are the gifts of a heart open to the Law of GOD, a mind open to the end of racial and religious prejudice, and a spirit open to the Presence of GOD in everyday life. Thank YOU, MOTHER DIVINE, for continuing to inspire the Peace Mission with Your positive Leadership and Guidance.'
Leon Jeter
at the Korean War Memorial
One of FATHER DIVINE'S Crusaders, Mr. Leon Jeter, who had been in the front lines during the Korean War, expressed his gratitude to FATHER DIVINE for setting a Standard for living. HE said to FATHER:
'I want to thank YOU just to be here for the Fiftieth Anniversary, because it could have been that I would not be here . . . In 1951 was the time I was in the military, and this is many years later. Anything could have happened in all those years.'
He went on to say:
'And I often think of how FATHER blessed all of those boys that came up under the Peace Mission, not going to jail and having bad records or going to the bars and cabarets and all those kinds of things to keep us on the right track. . . . But there was a Standard set, and I hope to continue to thank FATHER to reach that Standard.'
MOTHER DIVINE spoke again after this testimony. SHE thanked FATHER for Mr. Jeter's remarks, because he is a
'sample of the way this life is just as applicable to those in the likeness of men as to those in the likeness of women.'
Her Spiritual Marriage to FATHER DIVINE is an example of this Virtuous Life. SHE continued:
'Mankind really must evolve to a higher state of consciousness and be redeemed from the animal appetites to which he has fallen, and come up to the Angelic Standard of expression.
. . . We have seen the results of man's ignoration of GOD'S Law and of man persistently ignoring GOD and putting GOD out of the schools and out of his life and yet we have seen a great awakening in the people, and they have been freed from many traditions and conventional practices that have kept them bound.'
MOTHER DIVINE concluded by stating that SHE lives to see the day when people will be more universal, more impersonal, and do the things that will bring Global Peace. SHE said that SHE believes this will happen and that therefore, because SHE believes it, SHE will receive it!
With these forward looking Words from MOTHER DIVINE, the coverage in Enlightenment
of the first days of the Fiftieth Golden Jubilee
Wedding Anniversary is concluded.
In the next issue, accounts of the Reviews will be continued. In the meantime,
we will march into the Fifty First Year of the Marriage with Hope and Faith!
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