Comment: The following was Rev. M. J. DIVINE'S talk before a large public meeting in New York City in 1932.
FATHER Speaks:
Home of the Soul
'As far as I AM concerned you cannot see ME. It is written, 'A little while, and ye shall see me no more.' But because I live, ye also live. The wonderful testimony of one of the speakers, that was a wonderful thought, to realize that you must not butt at GOD. You must not criticize, you must not speak against the Holy Ghost. The Word is true. Who knows the color of the wind? The Word says,
'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and ye hear the sound thereof, but ye cannot tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit'.
So, is everyone that is born of GOD.
'That is the only thing that I want to knock out. I AM not after anybody, but just error. I came to establish the Kingdom of GOD in the hearts and lives of men. I AM no race, no creed, and no color, and I will not tolerate the thought of it. But to knock out even the appearance of it as being any race, creed or color, I have in and on MY staff those that would appear to be of every race. In MY Infinite Kingdom I have those that will appear to be of every race in mortal consciousness. I gather them out from among the tribes of the children of men and I have many in mortal consciousness, those that you would think MY help and servants of every race. And I will have some from every nationality, every appearance of a nationality, just to let you know that I AM no race, I AM no creed and I AM no color. It is Wonderful! So that is why I arose at this particular time, because I do not want that thought to be dropped here. I will have no races, creeds or colors. That abomination has been the ruination of the world and it will be the end of it.
'But I have called unto you from every tribe and every people, every denomination and every people, every race and every creed and every color, and I will draw them unto ME as though they are ME and I AM them.
'I just had to rise to say that at this time. As you think yourselves Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Christians of all description, I came to gather you into this spiritual understanding. Not that you must follow ME as a Person, it is immaterial to ME, but I came to bring you into this at-one-ment, this CHRIST Consciousness, that you may know that you are one in the Kingdom of GOD, that you may realize that you are no race, or creed, or color, or denomination any more, but that you all are the children of GOD for which CHRIST prayed, 'I pray that they may be one, even as we are one.' And He said,
'I thank thee FATHER, that thou hast given me power over all flesh.'
Even the Sonship Degree has power over all flesh. The mission of the Son is power over all flesh and He was not yet glorified. And He said,
'MY FATHER is greater than I,'
and I have filled the earth with the Name of the FATHER, and I have stamped the Name of the FATHER in your foreheads. I have stamped the Name of the FATHER in your foreheads and you are following the Lamb wheresoever He goeth. You are being redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto GOD and the Lamb. And in your mouths is found no guile.
'I have sown the Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD in the atmosphere and I have germinated the atmosphere with the Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD. And I have impregnated the minds of the inhabitants of New York with the Name of GOD in their foreheads. Now aren't you glad? I say I have filled the atmosphere with the Name of your FATHER, and when you breathe you are breathing in joy and peace, life, health and love: when you sing, you are singing in Jesus is CHRIST and CHRIST is GOD. I pray that they may be one, even as HE is one; and I came to dissolve them all in the melting pot, and they will be all one. I AM not studying about any race, nor creed, I AM not thinking about any race nor color. You have never seen ME. You think you know MY color. I came to set that old prejudicial seed on fire that has been handed down from ages back and I came to burn it out.
' So our GOD is a consuming fire, and I AM burning up every base desire. Every blasphemous desire that desires GOD to be less than what HE is, every low desire that wants GOD to be a race, every desire, every base desire, every low desire that wants GOD to be a color, every desire, every low desire that wants GOD to be a nationality. Our GOD is a consuming fire and He will burn up every mortal desire. No flesh shall glory in MY sight, no race, nor color shall glory in MY sight. No denominational pride shall glory in MY sight. No national pride shall glory in MY sight. It is Wonderful! I came to make you all one, and one in ME. And I fill and and thrill the atmosphere with the Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD. And I will stamp the Name of the FATHER uppermostly in your consciousness and I will put you in the spirit of lamb-likeness, to be governed by the spirit of meekness and obedience, that you may walk worthy of your vocation wherein you are called, that you may not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, and that you may be redeemed from among men and that you may not be defiled with women, that you may be virgins in the sight of GOD and all mankind will be able to live as little children.
'The lion and the lamb then shall lie down together
'and none shall hurt nor harm in all my holy mountain.'
I AM taking the lion nature from the lion. It is Wonderful! I AM purging you of your former sins, from your inbred sins, purifying you and purging you and making you whole. I AM fixing you so you will not have to hurt nor harm. And then the lion and the lamb can lie down together, and a little child can play on the crocodile's head.
Miss Peaceful Love, MOTHER and FATHER DIVINE
in the Home of the Soul
'That is a new and living message. I say a little child can play on the crocodile's head. And they all can rejoice for this is a high and a holy way and no ravenous beast can pass this way, for GOD is in the midst of thee, child of Infinite Spirit and Love Divine, purging you of all of your dross of sin, of your prejudicial seed and bigoted seed, and every mortal seed idea that no flesh shall glory in MY sight. No need for any so-called race to try to claim ME. You don't know anything about ME. I don't know anything about your creed, I don't know anything about your color, I don't know anything about your denomination, for where there is division there is strife. The only thing I came for is to bring you all, all denominations, all creeds, all colors, and all people in one, and to dissolve them in the melting pot that there may be no division among you; and I will not be discouraged until I have universalized it as I have accomplished it, and I have the patent right for this Kingdom, I have the patent right for this Kingdom. The only thing I will do is to universalize it now as I have the patent right for the Kingdom, and the copyright for the constitution of it. I have the birthrights for the souls of men.
'I have come to the hearts of the children of men, and if anybody asks you why you are following FATHER DIVINE, or REVEREND DIVINE, or whatsoever you choose to call ME, Dear Ones, I did not tell you to call ME FATHER MY Name, I sign MY Name REVEREND M. J. DIVINE. I never sign MY Name FATHER, and I never tell anyone to call ME FATHER. Even MY own students can tell you that when I answer the phone I say, This is MR. DIVINE talking. But when they ask you why you are following ME, you can declare why you are following ME because I have the key to your hearts, I have the key to your soul and you are walking in the Light of MY Love, and I AM filling and thrilling you with the joy that the world cannot unfold.
'Now someone may go on to say, 'Why does HE say that HE is doing that? Now you are intelligent people even though I may be supposedly the most insignificant of the insignificant. It is Wonderful! It is Wonderful! I may be as the most ignorant of the ignorant, however you can say even as I have said, that I AM filling and thrilling your souls with joy, and someone may say, 'How can these things be, what can a man do, how can a man do it?'
'Listen! Peace! If you say a man did not the CHRIST by the Word as it is recorded, plainly tell them to go into all the world? Did He not say as a man,
'In my name ye shall cast out d-v-ls?'
Did He not say,
'Ye shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover?
In MY Name! In MY Name! Do you not see the great significance of this mighty Name? Can any man defy this Name? Can any man refute this name? I know it is Wonderful!
'In my name ye shall cast out d-v-ls . . . . ye shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.'
In MY Name! In MY Name! In MY Name!
Now is not DIVINE, GOD? is not that the Name of GOD?
'The name of GOD is a strong tower: and the righteous run therein, and are saved.'
Aren't you glad? This mighty Holy Name, this Name that charms your fears, this Name that bids your sorrows cease, this Name that is music in the sinner's ears, this Name is health, this Name is peace, this mighty Holy Name! Aren't's you glad! In MY Name! In MY Name! In MY Name! And you shall not see HIM until you say,
'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord'
Now aren't you glad? You can see that the Name is a mighty blessing. It is a mighty protection. It is a house of refuge. The Name of GOD is a tower, this mighty Holy Name! This mighty Holy Name! This Name that unlocks the prison doors. This Name that rolls away the stone. This Name that dried up your tears. This Name that cast out your fears. This mighty Name! This mighty Name! This mighty Holy Name! This mighty powerful Name! This mighty living Name! This mighty Name! This mighty Name! This mighty Name! It is Wonderful!
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of GOD by your tradition?
For GOD commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, it is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of GOD of none effect by your tradition.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon,,
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
'I am thinking of the things of Spirit that are made flesh, yet the Spirit Spiritualizes both it and them. Therefore, the Spirit materialized is incorruptible, undefiled and fadeth not away. Hence, being Spirit, I am as happy as can be, and as free as a bird to the tree. And stone prison walls and iron prison bars cannot hold me, for I am Spirit, even though I am flesh materialized. Yet in my flesh I do see GOD. My eyes see HIM for myself, and not for others.
'GOD in the flesh is the redeemer of man. As Creator CHRIST came, and is redeemer of same. Although it is written: ' Unless those days be shortened there shall be no flesh saved, but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.' (are shortened.)'
The man who 'walks alone.' Let us stop for a few seconds and think of those few words. Are you or I one of those men? As we go through life some to big business, some to daily labor and some to play we all have one big aim; but while reaching for that aim, do we 'walk alone?'
As I sit in this cell and have lots of time to think and look around I see a man who in Himself 'walks alone.' Yet, HIS followers run into thousands. That man is the Rev. FATHER DIVINE sent to this prison to pay a price for 'walking alone.' I call HIM a man who 'walks alone.' because HE has only one path, and that path is the path of GOD. It is HIS Life and study. HE has only one aim, and that is the aim of GOD.
Many of us have one big aim. But in trying to gain that aim, do we play square by our fellow man? Do we play square by our loved ones or are we still just a man who 'walks alone,' casting all the best of life and love to one side? Most of us say we have no time to listen to preaching and the likes of that. If we would only stop long enough to realize how much difference it would make and how much more happiness we would have if we only would stop just for one second, I know we would find this world a better place to live in.
We talked tonight of the 'Inner Man.' Something, and one of the main things the Reverend tries to bring out there is a real inner person in each and every one of us that if we would start 'walking alone' and realize, it would make a different man of each and every one of us and then we would be loved and respected by our fellow men and would not be just a man who 'walks alone.'
The following was FATHER's first Sermon and HIS first greeting to the public after a Personal absence of a month during which time the Personal Body was in Suffolk County Jail. These remarks were made after a great demonstration on the part of an audience of ten thousand or more, gathered at Rockland Palace, l55th Street, New York City, on June 26, l932.
'PEACE EVERYBODY! Peace and joy to the world, and prosperity and love. I AM delighted to be here in Person, but I have been here all the time, I have not gone anywhere. It is written,
'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,'
and you realize that, don't you? I know you do. It is Wonderful! There were many that thought I had gone some place, but I AM glad to say that I have not gone anywhere.
'You read the Message that I gave you some time ago when I said that MY Spirit is just as operative when I AM absent in Body as when I AM Present in Body. That is the great significance of this Work, to realize that it is not that I must necessarily be here or there, to be there in reality. The reality of MYSELF is not Personality or Materiality, or Body, or flesh, or blood, or bones, but the reality of MYSELF is MY true spirituality, that is incorruptible, undefiled and fadeth not away, and you all realize that today. You realize that when I AM supposedly absent in Body I AM present in Spirit. All you must needs do is to realize that the Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD is the Source of all Supply, and it will satisfy every good desire. It is indeed Wonderful!.
'There are many of you have not seen MY face in Person for a few weeks, but
I have been with you all the while. When I was sentenced to the jail supposedly
as a m-a-n, I could but rejoice and be exceeding glad that I might be counted
worthy to suffer persecution, yea, even prosecution, for the great Cause. It
is indeed Wonderful! For this cause came I into the world, and I say I will
not stop until I universalize it. I will not stop until I have universalized
this Infinite Love, this Love that is Incorruptible, undefiled and fadeth not
away. This Love that will bring all mankind in one, in answer to the prayer
of Jesus in the seventeenth chapter of St. John. And this is but a sketch of
a reflection of a percent of a percent of a percent of the outer condition
of the mind that is within. It is only a sketch of a reflection, I say, of
a percent of a percent of a percent of the condition of MY MIND within. It
is Wonderful! It is wonderful to know it is true and this day the Word of GOD
is fulfilled unto you, and in your very gates, and humanity realizes that for
this cause we can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of great glory.
'You notice that quotation of the phrase that I so often use, and just use the phrase, 'It is Wonderful.' It is written, 'Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . . and he shall be called Wonderful.' Have not I filled and thrilled the atmosphere of the United States of America, of Australia, of Europe, Asia and Africa with this wonderful Name 'Wonderful?' 'Wonderful?' and 'Peace,' I say, I shall impregnate the air with it more than ever before. When you breathe in you must breathe in joy and peace. I AM so glad because this Love shall outlast them all. Because this Love, I say, is stronger. than death. Because this Love, I say, will unlock the hearts and the souls of men. This mighty, Holy Love!
'I can rejoice to see so many happy faces today to see ME as a Person. It is Wonderful! Now aren't you glad? Aren't you glad, I say, as a Person, one that was led as a lamb to the slaughter, dumb as a sheep before her shearers, He opened not HIS mouth. It is indeed Wonderful, because I did not intend to open MY mouth. It is Wonderful! It is Wonderful because I did not have any occasion to open MY mouth. It is Wonderful because I AM the One as they say, 'The m-a-n is sick.' It is Wonderful, I say, because I endured and was led as a lamb, I say, dumb and ignorant.
'Dumb as a sheep before her shearers, HE opened not HIS mouth.'
It is Wonderful because they laid the handcuffs on ME. They laid the handcuffs on ME and led ME into the judgment hall. Some of you knew that it was a violation of the law, to do so, and I was led into the courtroom in the presence of the jurors, handcuffed. But it is Wonderful and I rejoice.
'It is Wonderful! Because they said all manners of evil about ME. It is Wonderful
because they called ME everything but a child of GOD. It is Wonderful! But
children, I have the key to Heaven. Wonderful because I have the key to the
hearts and minds of men. It is Wonderful!, because this fascinating Love It
is Wonderful! because it goes forth with seeming magic touch transforming the
nation and bringing the whole world in closer harmony because it bound us together
in one band of love. I have this mighty Love, and not only having this call
of Love, I have this balm of Love. I will bring you together of every nation,
language, tongue and people, and there will be no division among all the nations
of the whole world, for the Blood has paid it all that we might have the right
to the Tree of Life and unify ourselves with the Infinite Whole, being one
in CHRIST and one in GOD, and one in One and One in all. Now that is what all
of this is about.
'Now I AM just beginning. It is Wonderful because I said yesterday to the sheriff, I said, if it was for ME to suffer to stay here, not only suffering persecutions, prosecutions, but even executions, that would not change MY Mind. It is Wonderful because I AM just as operative without the Body as I AM with the Body. It is Wonderful! Isn't it Wonderful because I can carry MY Body with ME if I desire to? Because I can shake off the Body if I want to? And none can stop this Infinite Love that transcends all gravitation, yea, even all limitation and goes beyond the bounds of limitation into infinitude, the end you cannot vision. It is indeed Wonderful!
'Now I AM rejoicing to see so many faces rejoicing, and to let you know that nought can harm ME.
'Fear not, little flock; it is your FATHER'S good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'
This is a Kingdom of Peace that is dwelling within. It is a Kingdom of incorruptibleness. It is a Kingdom that is unified. It is a Kingdom that fadeth not away. It is a Kingdom that is preserved in GOD for you. It is preserved and held in GOD, and is both preserved in GOD and reserved in GOD both for you and those that will come after you. Now aren't you glad?
'We can rejoice because as I say, this is just a sketch of a reflection of a percent of a percent of a percent of the outer condition of the mind that is within. These are but MY Followers immediately, and co-workers that I have here with ME today, and as I say, they are but a sketch of a reflection of a percent of a percent of a percent of the outer condition of the mind within. They are but the outpicturing of a sketch of a reflection of a percent of a percent of a percent of the limitless blessings that I have in storehouse for the souls of the children of men. Yes, we shall have it just as it is here all over the world. There shall be no races, there shall be no creeds, there shall be no colors, but this is in answer to the prayer of Jesus, 'I pray that they may be one, even as we are one.' For this cause I stand before you as a prisoner of Suffolk County. It is Wonderful!. (Cheers)
'It is indeed wonderful because I have brought to you the key of life and health and love, and everything else that is good, and this is it of which was afore spoken by the counselor, saying that as it was written in the paper, 'What about the man railroading those c - - - boys down in Alabama? But what about the m -a- n that was railroaded, or in other words, serving a year in jail down in Suffolk County, Long Island?' Of course, they did not say a five hundred dollar fine also, but it was a year in jail and a five hundred dollar fine for feeding and clothing the hungry and the naked, for rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying, for bringing greater peace and love and prosperity to the world in the time of depression. And at the very time that man was talking about, 'We cannot get work, we cannot get food, we cannot get raiment,' at the time of depression and at the extremity of man, it happened to be GOD's opportunity, and I say, the Name of GOD said it.
'I say, it is wonderful, and said unto you, 'Lay down the world and take up
your cross, and follow me.' Now aren't you glad? It is just Wonderful? Now
aren't you glad? Aren't you willing to follow wheresoever I lead you?
'It is wonderful because this Truth is not confined to races, creeds or colors, nationalities or anything like that, but it goes forth beyond the bounds the bounds of limitation into infinitude, the end you cannot vision, but it is beyond the comprehension of the mind of man, and it is just Wonderful!. I hope you all are glad. It is Wonderful!. This Truth shall go from shore to shore and from land to land. There are many that have spoken of the spiritual and mental, as I would term it, Mahatma Gandhi. There are many that have spoken of the spiritual and mental, as I would term it to be, the legalized and honorable Mussolini. While they are standing for their countries, I have come to stand for every nation, tongue and people. It is Wonderful because every nation and every language and every tongue and every people, they are MY people. It is Wonderful because I have come to bring peace and prosperity to them all.
'Then how can this Truth be captured, or how can it be hindered? How can it be handicapped when it reaches the hearts and lives and minds of men of all walks of life and in every nation, tongue and people, and bring prosperity to them all? Now does not this look something like it? Now you all know we look beautiful, don't we? We look beautiful, do we not? I have every nation, tongue and people, and every denomination, and every race, and every creed, and every color. We are absolutely one, and those that have not come to the at-one-ment, I will unify them. Aren't you glad? Aren't you glad? For there is joy in this Love beyond the limitation and comprehension of man's understanding. It is free for one and free for all, this Love that is so magnetic, this mighty Love that will attract and draw to you everything you desire. It is indeed Wonderful!
'Contact the CHRIST and cast out of your consciousness and hence out of your system all prejudice, bigotry, resentment, anger, envy, hatred, malice, jealousy and division of every kind, and unify yourselves with the Infinite Whole, in answer to the Lord's Prayer in the seventeenth chapter of St. John,
'I pray that they may be one, even as we are one.'
So through seeming persecutions, criticisms and seeming combatments, they are but a stepping stone and we must have some more stepping stones. Every knock is a boost I say, every criticism is a praise.
'The anger of man shall praise GOD. The very anger that proceedeth out of the spirit and the mind of man, manifestedly the wrath of man shall praise GOD.
'So therefore, we can rejoice and be exceeding glad. We can rejoice for this mighty Holy Love. We can rejoice for all criticism, we can rejoice for every adverse and undesirable condition, and praise GOD for the limitless blessings bestowed upon the hearts and souls of the children of men her and now in this present world. Take these thoughts into consideration and the blessings of GOD will be with you all.'
Speaking at a great banquet held on Sunday, June 26, in honor of HIS Personal return, FATHER said:
'It is Wonderful! If you all don't want this mighty Love, say so. It is so fascinating the whole world has gone after it. It is Wonderful! It is Wonderful! It is Wonderful! This mighty Love is so fascinating the whole world, I say, is going after it. It is going forth with seeming magic touch. It is transforming the nation and bringing all in perfect harmony. It is quick and powerful, it is sharper than a two-edged sword. It is stronger than death, this mighty Holy Love! It will catch the hearts and minds of wrath and vengeance and turn them into the glory and the praise and the love of GOD. Without it, humanity will seen see that there is no life, nor health, nor peace.'
After one of the secretaries had read a recent issue of the Metaphysical News, in which FATHER'S story about the lamb and the goats was published, May l8th issue, FATHER spoke, referring to the following quotation from the reading:
'For what you visualize concerning ME, the nature of that condition, perfect or imperfect, the positive or the negative, will be produced in you and in your lives and will be manifested unto the world.'
FATHER said: 'You will visibilate, you will materialize and bring out into your material form and manifest it to the world, that which you visualize concerning ME, whether it be the negative or the positive, so-called good or so-called evil. Whatever you visualize concerning ME, that is what you will materialize and show forth to the world
'Do you not see that if I had been a natural m-a-n and didn't know what was coming to pass, that Message was delivered some time before the so-called trial, if I had been a natural m-a-n and didn't know, the Spirit would have been revealing that to ME without knowing that it would come to pass, that MY opponents would be seeking political advantage. I said, I AM not seeking any friends, any social standing or political standing or anything like that, I have everything.'
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