There are established Churches under FATHER DIVINE'S Peace Mission Movement, as is well known, all over the world. They have grown up voluntarily, with no proselyting, as men and women have obtained the Words of FATHER DIVINE down through the years, and read them, and in turn have become followers as they strive to live the Life of CHRIST in their daily lives and affair's and to adhere to the Precepts of Righteousness, Truth and Justice as taught by FATHER DIVINE.
Through tuning their minds to the Spirit of HIS Ever Presence they have found, in calling upon HIS Holy Name, their prayers have been heard and answered; their desires' satisfied; no matter in what part of the world they are; for, as FATHER stresses, it is not necessary to come to HIM Personally to receive a blessing. Thus, through the reveal-ation of this mystery, those of every so-called, race, creed and color have discovered that GOD is tru1y here on earth again, even as Jesus said that He would come again with His FATHER, and that FATHER DIVINE is HIS Name.
Recorded tapes of Praise Service are received from time and time from these and when there is space some these testimonies are edited that all might enjoy them and rejoice with us in GOD'S great and marvelous Work here on .earth.
(Several songs are firstly sung by the Fo1lowers on this tape from the Nazareth Mission Church in Australia.)
April 29,1950, 4th Anniversary Celebration, Sydney, N. S. W., Australia
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER, Peace Everyone;
It's so amazing to see the progress in material expression of truth mechanically recording and transmitting. It's so wonderful to know that we can say Peace to YOU FATHER and to YOU MOTHER and to know that it's going on record and that YOU'RE going to hear it. It's marvelous!
I was thinking a little while ago, FATHER, how, beautiful it was to greet a newcomer to our, ranks here -- Brother Keith on my left, a fine young man who apparently happened to get in company with Brother Graham and got an insight into Who and what YOU are and what YOU expect of us, and I was just thinking how simple it really is. We look back into the Old Testament and we find that Micah puts the whole thing in a nutshell or in a short phrase when he said,
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy GOD." (Micah 6:8)
Well that comprises practically all of the teaching in one sentence. And then we come to a more lovely later stage when they did away with tallow candles and getting on to a little advancement in things and we find our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ telling us all to love the LORD our GOD with all our hearts, with all our minds and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as our self. Those two combined express all that volumes have been written about, and yet just those two - Micah and our Lord, in just those expressions give us all that is needed, if we follow that advice.
Then to help us follow that advice we turn back again to the Old Testament and we find Isaiah. telling us,
"For Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the Government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The mighty God, The ever1asting Father, The Prince of Peace.
'Of the Increase of His government and Peace there shall be no end" (Isaiah
9:6 & 7)
- neither can there be any end to it. Isn't it all wonderful? And we find that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fulfills that prophecy and He goes further and tells us,
"I'm the Way, the Truth and the Life~ no man cometh unto the FATHER but by Me," (John 14:6):
and He leaves us to fathom out the meaning of that sentence which is so beautiful and so wonderful. And now after saying that, just on two thousand years ago, along comes the same Principle, the same Love, only in the Fatherhood of GOD Degree and known to us all as FATHER DIVINE, amplifying and teaching and inculcating all that. is needed to make sure of our utter and complete Salvation - salvation from everything that is undesirable - so that if we fulfil the Scripture and do become completely self-denied and whole-heartedly consecrated to GOD, we will have obeyed by letting that Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, Who thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Himself the form of a Servant and became obedient even unto death on the Cross.
And so, FATHER, it's so wonderful to have YOU teaching us that - rehearsing it, repeating it, making it clearer, drumming it in all the time, until finally it becomes part of ourselves.
And then what Scripture do we find fulfilled if and when we do become so completely self. denied? Why that Scripture wherein it's written
"In the twinkling of an eye immortality shall put off mortality and death shall be no more."
Oh isn't it wonderful? Isn't it beautiful? And I thank YOU FATHER that here we can obey the Injunction and let whatever light we have on the subject so shine that men may see our good works and glorify not us but our FATHER which is in Heaven, known now as FATHER DIVINE throughout the whole of this wide world!
So, FATHER, I thank YOU for the privilege of just saying these few words.
Peace FATHER Dear, Peace MOTHER Dear, Peace Everyone:
FATHER Dear I would like to recite the first four verses of the fourth chapter of Micah. (She recites:)
'But in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
'And many nations shall come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
'And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations, afar off; and they shall break their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
'But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree and none sha1l make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of Hosts hath spoken it.'
(She then says:) And now, FATHER, I would like to recite the Woodmont Prayer.
(FATHER revealed this to her a few years ago:). (MRS. Hanbury recites:)
FATHER DIVINE, GOD ALMIGHTY,
We exalt YOU above the mountains,
We magnify YOU above the hills,
We hear YOUR Sweet Voice calling
As we strive to do YOUR Will.
YOU are calling, "Come up higher
To the mountain of the LORD,
I have given you the Covenant,
The Creeds, MY Holy Word,,
'I have laid a firm foundation
And opened up the way.
By trusting in MY Spirit
Your feet shall never stray!'
FATHER Dear, YOU have filled eyes with beauty,
Our hearts with perfect Peace,
These temples filled with hea1th and joy
Blessings never cease!
0 the glory of knowing that
THOU ALONE art GOD,
And the path that we must trod
Is the path that THOU has trod!
So FATHER, keep us faithful,
With hearts so strong and fine;
Not knowing any mind
Or any will but THINE,
And purge and cleanse these temples
As a dwelling place for THEE
From every mortal version,
My FATHER Set us free!
That we may be a chalice, pure, for YOU.
A channel for YOUR Holy Love,
In everything we do,
That we may to, the Woodmont
Consciousness attain
To be with YOU and MOTHER
And forever more remain,!
(She, then asks all to join in as she sings:)
FATHER's the anchor that keeps our soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
FATHER is the Rock' we are standing on,
FATHER is the Rock that is firm and strong.
Graham Wescott , left, at the Shrine to Life at
The Mount of the House of the Lord
(speaks and reads an excerpt of a letter from FATHER to him.)
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER and Peace Everyone:
Thank YOU FATHER for the privilege tonight of wearing the Crusader's jacket for the first time. (Loud applause is heard.)
Thank YOU FATHER for the privilege of wearing it on the night that we are celebrating Woodmont, the Mount of the House of the LORD. I've got an excerpt of YOUR Letter that YOU sent to me, FATHER, about when I was to receive it. It's dated July the fourteenth, nineteen sixth-three A.D.F.D.. (He reads:)
'The Crusader's Jacket has been delivered and will be mailed to you promptly, no doubt, by surface mail. Wear it with pride, in Righteousness, for I have made you, MY true Crusaders, pioneers in the new Heaven and the new earth where you can dwell in Virtue and in Peace.'
(Mr. Wescott continues speaking:)
Thank YOU FATHER for those beautiful Words. I thank YOU FATHER for the Peace that we have got since we accepted YOU, our GOD, and we thank YOU FATHER that no matter where we are, because we have accepted YOU as our GOD we love America, because YOU have given us the Peace and YOU have changed our lives. And as we heard the spool tonight - YOUR Sermon, FATHER, about Zacchaeus - he went back and paid all his back debts and got a true conversion, and that's the conversion that YOU have given us, FATHER!
I thank YOU for YOUR Power that has brought us together and for giving us the privilege to love YOU for all that YOU have done. We thank YOU FATHER Dear!
(The familiar; song, "Beautiful Zion, GOD is here," is sung by the entire assembly here in Australia, and other songs of praise as well.)
'Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER, Peace Everyone:
FATHER Dear, it's a wonderful night tonight! Here we're praising YOU because of Woodmont, but FATHER I think it's so wonderful to see another Crusader in the army of Crusaders that are spread right 'round the world. Only GOD could change the minds of young men and cause them to want to live...this Holy, Pure, Virtuous Life!
It has been said that FATHER'S Teaching is the most severe of any religion, and it is, if it's followed thoroughly and correctly. And I think it's so wonderful that HIS Love can reach out and get the people and that they are willing, absolutely willing to1ive according, to HIS Word and, HIS Teaching! And so, FATHER, tonight our hearts are all rejoiced to know that Graham is wearing the Crusader's Uniform tonight, and FATHER, he is a living Epistle! I thank YOU FATHER.
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER, Peace Everyone:
Thank YOU FATHER for the privilege that we have to be YOUR Followers, We thank YOU FATHER that this Way may be considered the hardest of all religions for some, but it's also the sweetest and it's got the greatest rewards! We thank YOU FATHER for the HOPE that we have and the ENTHUSIASM, and it's all because we know YOU are here FATHER and it's all from YOU, We know it's YOUR Enthusiasm and YOUR Gift that YOU have given us to live this Life! Thank YOU FATHER Dear. (Loud applause resounds.) ,
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER and Peace Everyone;
FATHER Darling, It's truly wonderful how we have felt the last few days during the Anniversary Celebration at Woodmont -the glorious Love and Peace feeling in our hearts! There was such a beautiful vision of Woodmont. There was the lawns and the gardens; the flowers and the hedges, the flagpole, the swimming pool and the tennis courts - I could see them all, FATHER. And then, up to the Mount of the HOUSE of the LORD! And it was truly wonderful to know that in that beautiful Home sat the CREATOR of ALL THINGS, and I knew that it was because the BODY of GOD dwelt in that Home - the Spirit of GOD Personified in that Beautiful Body of FATHER DIVINE - that Woodmont looked like it did! It was but the visible expression of all the beautiful thoughts and ideas and opinions that dwelt within that Home! And it was wonderful, FATHER, just to dwell in those Glow-Rays, for a few days, from Woodmont, and I do thank YOU FATHER.
And it's so wonderful too, that twelve months ago when we were ce1ebrating the Anniversary of Woodmont, the Crusader said his Creed to YOU and tonight he stands in that beautiful dress Uniform that YOU have given him, FATHER and our hearts are rejoicing for that! It's so wonderful to have watched and waited, and knowing that that coat was on its way over here until the very day it arrived and now tonight to see the Crusader standing before YOU, thanking YOU for that Coat! And FATHER Darling, we know that that Coat is but a symbol of the Life to be lived, and what FATHER has said to the Rosebuds, the Lillybuds and the Crusaders HE has said to ALL. It's the same Life to be lived, and it's truly, truly wonderful, FATHER, the joy and the privilege we have to live this Life, because we know it's only that beautiful Love of GOD that dwells in that House of the Mount of the LORD, with HIS Bride beside HIM. that makes this Life possible for us to live! --that PURE, UNADULTERATED love! We can come to GOD just as we are and HE is willing to receive us, and I thank YOU FATHER for that. And 1 have some words here which FATHER gave to a Rosebud, where FATHER said it's the one Life for all, and 1 would 1ike to read them that you might all, particularly as we have a stranger, a seeming stranger with us tonight, I would just like to read these few words.
FATHER is speaking about Isaiah, the sixty-second chapter and the fifth verse; FATHER said:
(She reads:)
'You are the ones in that number, and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride so shall thy GOD rejoice over thee! Stand up for your virginity and keep your Virtue. Express it scientifically and accurately from every angle expressible and GOD will continue to rejoice over you! The Spirit of the Christ within, whom Job spoke of in his experience. '1 know that my Redeemer liveth for he liveth in my soul,' You are married to that one within, not necessarily without but within, the Christ in your life. When you conform to His Teaching and live soberly, righteously and godly and express decency and honesty, competence and truth and, develop and manifest the virginity of Mary and the Holiness of Jesus, and then, as a bridegroom rejoiceth over His bride, equivalently the same I rejoice over you!'
(MRS. Fowle then says:)
I thank FATHER for those beautiful words to each and everyone of us and it seems to me always, that these Uniforms, whether they're Lily-Buds', Rosebuds' or Crusaders', they are a symbol of the Life we have promised GOD to live. Just as the blood that the Children of Israel put on the doorpost that the destroying angel might pass over them, so are these Uniforms we wear today the Sign that the destroying angel will pass over us if we live true to these vows we have made to GOD!
So FATHER was with the Children of the Old Testament, and truly we are having the same things today as we had then; and FATHER has given us a sign that the world won't disturb us and it can do us no harm if we can but live true to our Creeds which FATHER has given us! I thank YOU FATHER and I thank YOU MOTHER.
(At this point a Love March is announced and is held, even as here, with the Followers marching around the Holy Communion Table and pausing at the Head of the Table to whisper or, in this case, speak aloud their Love Messages to FATHER and MOTHER.)
Banquet Table,
Nazareth Missions Church, Australia
Here we are again FATHER!
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER, Peace Everyone:
We're having a little Love March tonight, FATHER, and as we come past YOUR Chair here, or YOUR Chairs, because YOUR Rosebud Bride is in one and YOU are in the other - we are sure of that - so we are privileged to have a word to say.
I think, FATHER, that the word I have fallen most in love with is the personal possessive pronoun in the English language - that little word "my". In all YOUR Correspondence with me, and I think with everybody, YOU say "My dear Mr., Mrs., or Miss," as the case may be. So, FATHER, We are so glad that YOU have claimed us all, because we are glad to make any sacrifice that is necessary and we can do it only by YOUR Grace. Yes,
'HE was in the world and the world was made by HIM and the world knew HIM not"
and,
'We beheld His Glory as the Glory of the only Begotten of the FATHER, full of Grace and of Truth.'
And FATHER, we are looking forward to the time when we can say,
'All of His Grace have all we received . . .'
It is so wonderful! For the benefit of our visitor, Keith, whom I hope to see
at every Banquet or many of the Banquets hereafter on Tuesday or Saturday as
the case may be, or both, for the benefit of Keith I will endeavor to repeat
a letter that YOU sent me, FATHER, many, many years ago; the date and everything
in YOUR Own handwriting and YOUR Own Composition. (He recites:)
August 7, 1933 A.D.F.D.
Peace!
My dear Mr. Brown:
In your letter you asked,
Of lacks, limitations, wants, you be not tasked,
And again you said, "Do it now! Let it be !
Can't you see plainly I'm asking that of thee?
Relax, cut loose, let go and it will be,
Abundance is prevalent for you as well as it is for ME,
But you must believe it, know it and be still
Until Christ is born and you've risen in GOD's Will.
For it is not by power, neither is it by might
That you win the battle in this spiritual fight,
But "it is by My Spirit" said Christ your LORD
And My Yoke is easy, My Way not hard.
In MY Letter I remember, I did say unto thee,
That Christ in you and Christ in ME
Will deliver you from lack, limitation and
want And give you a freedom the world cannot daunt.
Again I have said, from your consciousness cast
Hatred, envy, races, doubts and fears of the past,
For you must be unified with the Infinite Whole
If you wish yours and other's' affairs to control.
First, rid yourself of all taint and pride That so easily beset you. Oh, lay them aside!
You're not your own, you are bought with a Price,' .
Your body is the temple of the Living Christ,
It's no more mortal flesh, as some would try to say,
But you are materialized Spirit.- I confirm that today!
Now, have you been corresponding so long with ME
And don't know the meaning of the letters, "F. D."?
If you'd still your mentality, let the Spirit unfold, "
F. D.", I AM sure, would thrill your very soul!
Now, in conclusion, if you'll read Matthew and Mark,
Also Luke and John, and to the Master's Voice hark.
For in these four Books the Life of Christ you will find.
Renewing your soul. your body and mind.
Live thus according, and may I will you to be
Well, Healthy, Joyful, throughout eternity!
I Am Peaceful, Lively, Loving and Successfu1 too,
Prosperous and Happy, thrilled through and through
In every organ, muscle, sinew, joint, limb, bone and cell
And if you'll abide in ME, this glad news you can tell
For Christ will have risen in your body, soul and mind,
Respectfully and Sincere, I AM, Reverend M. J. Divine.
(Mr. Brown says:) I thank YOU FATHER! And now I will give somebody else a chance
to speak.
Thus follows some of the other Love Messages:)
Peace FATHER Darling and MOTHER Darling:
Thank YOU FATHER Dear for all YOUR Love and all YOUR Blessings and for the marvelous privilege of knowing YOU and MOTHER, and knowing that YOU are GOD ALMIGHTY. I thank YOU FATHER Darling!
Peace FATHER Dear, Peace MOTHER Dear, And. Peace to the whole world!
FATHER Dear I do thank YOU for the privilege of just saying a few words to YOU, and what I want to say to YOU, FATHER, is that I love YOU and adore YOU FATHER! YOU are beautiful to me; deep down in this heart you are beautiful FATHER! And I thank YOU for YOUR lovely beautiful Teaching FATHER, YOUR Words of Spirit and Life, they are beautiful! Thank YOU FATHER for everything that is good. Thank YOU FATHER Dear, thank YOU MOTHER Dear.
Peace FATHER and Peace MOTHER:
This is the first little Love token I have ever said to YOU although I have sung many to YOU and whispered them to YOU in my own way. But I thank YOU FATHER for everything and for the Blessings that have come my way -- the easy life YOU'VE given me, and because we live the Life they come so easy , the Blessings. So I thank YOU FATHER and MOTHER for every thing that I have experienced through coming into this Life. Peace FATHER and Peace MOTHER.
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER and Peace Everyone:
FATHER Dear, This is a great privilege tonight! We are having a beautiful Woodmont Celebration; as well as the celebration of the Crusader with the new Crusader coat, Darling FATHER and MOTHER it's wonderful. Thank YOU Dear for everything.
Peace FATHER Dear, Peace MOTHER Dear and Peace Everyone:
FATHER Dear I just have to tell YOU that I love YOU and I, thank YOU FATHER for this beautiful Way of Life that YOU have taught us to live! I thank YOU, FATHER that my life has been so changed and so full of joy and peace and happiness that I can't thank YOU too much and I know FATHER, the thing that pleases YOU best is to live the Life and praise YOUR Holy Name - and I thank YOU to say this: (She recites a poem of Praise given to her by FATHER'S Holy Spirit.)
Fill THOU my life, 0 LORD, my GOD,
In every path with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
THY Being and THY Ways.
Not for the love of Praise alone
Nor e'en a praising heart I ask,
But for a life made up
Of Praise in every part.
Praise in the common things of life,
Its goings out and in,
Praise in each duty and each deed
However small and mean,
So that no part of day or night
From sacredness be free,
But all my life in every part
Be fellowship with THEE .
I Thank YOU FATHER and MOTHER Dear.
Peace FATHER and MOTHER: A Merry Christmas!
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER: I love YOU FATHER..
Peace to FATHER and MOTHER.
Peace FATHER, Peace MOTHER, Peace Everyone:
FATHER Dear, I just want to say I love YOU. I Love YOU both! And I love YOU FATHER for what YOU are doing for all the world. It's so wonderful, FATHER Dear, to watch YOUR Spirit working everywhere Everything that YOU have said twenty and thirty years ago is coming true today! And FATHER. YOU are my Companion. YOU are the One, FATHER Dear, I always talk to, and YOU listen to me. YOU have given me the witness of the Spirit when I talk to YOU so quickly, that I know YOU hear me and it makes me love YOU more and more and causes me, FATHER Dear, to walk more and more in YOUR Statutes. I thank YOU FATHER Dear.
(They all sing.
'YOU'RE the only One we want to be near,
YOU'RE the only One we love.
after which the recording closes. with this song:)
What a day this has been,
What a day this has been,
Now we've all come together,
Loving one another
What a day this has been!
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