The gas pumps outside the new garage owned and operated by the Followers of Father Divine at Roundout in the Promised Land, were brightly lighted, Saturday evening June 18th and a constant stream of cars rolled into the station. It was the opening of this beautiful building containing a large garage on the ground floor, with the usual spacious apartments for brothers above, that characterizes these practical Divine garages in the Promised Land.
One of the Promised Land garages and brothers' quarters.
On this occasion the garage itself with its smooth floor of new concrete was filled to capacity with folding chairs, each one filled, and with many persons standing in the aisles. Neighbors were there from the surrounding town and country side as well as many of the followers from New York City, and of course a large number of those of the Promised Land.
It was an enthusiastic gathering, enjoyed apparently as much by the visitors as by the followers, and when Father rose to speak early in the meeting there was a great demonstration.
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, after which Father speaks as follows:)
"Peace, Everyone:
At this instance I arise to say, we are assembled for the purpose of bringing into legalization and into Righteousness, Truth and Justice, the activity of this project here, as may be expected to be, and in bringing this about we feel it is our duty and privilege to introduce to our community our Work and Activities of Righteousness in calling together the many friends, co-workers and admirers to let them see and know just what we are endeavoring, from and through and by the great conversion that the Spirit of MY Presence is performing.
Thousands and millions of just and right-thinking persons have been converted to Righteousness, Truth and Justice; they have been lifted up from immorality, from vice and from crime and from sin of every kind. Having been lifted from those conditions and quickened by the Spirit of GOD'S Presence they have endeavored to live just and honest and wholesome lives. For this cause thousands and thousands of MY Followers have put away their equipments of war, 'they are studying war no more', as the old saying is. They are studying Righteousness, Truth and Justice for the establishment of Peace universally among us. By this, they having been converted into Righteousness, having lifted up themselves from vice and from crime and from sin of every kind, they are endeavoring to live Evangelically and deal justly and honestly between man and man. By this they have endeavored to live honest, moral and respectable lives and to become to be real law-abiding citizens from every angle expressible; hence, they have been converted in spirit, body and mind and having been converted in spirit, body and mind and their bodies are brought into subjection to the legalization of Righteousness, as they recognize the legal laws of our land and country, as being Righteousness established in legality, they are endeavoring to live soberly, Godly, and righteously in this present world, and from this great conversion from the hearts and lives of these MY Followers who are converted, I drafted the Righteous Government Platform.
The Righteous Government Platform upon which we all stand, is an important piece of legislation to be legalized universally and recognized as the hope of the redemption of all mankind. Why is it? It is because this Righteous Government Platform has been drafted from the hearts and the minds of righteous men; those who have been converted from vice and from crime, from sin and debauchery of every kind; those who have endeavored to live soberly, Godly and righteously in this present world; those who are endeavoring to be honest, competent and true; those who are endeavoring to be self-respecting, self-supporting and independent. By this I feel the drafting of this Righteous Government Platform from such minds, it must be the most important piece of legislation to be enacted eventually through our legislators, and established universally as the hope of the redemption of humanity.
For this cause I AM presenting to the world at large, a righteous foundation for a Righteous Government, that the Righteousness of GOD as transmitted and advocated by all religions might be established legally and politically, and that our political machinery might run by righteousness instead of being run by violence, for righteousness will exalt the nation but sin is a reproach to any people. For this cause MY Followers have been converted from unrighteousness to righteousness. They have sacrificed their lives, and are sacrificing their lives for righteousness' sake, that the Righteousness of GOD might be established on earth among men, and might be legalized and recognized by all legality, not only in this country but in other countries.
Then I say, this Righteous Government Platform which we are stressing, it means the enactment of righteousness in business, profession, labor and trade. That is the meaning of the Righteous Government which I Am representing. It means that we should do that which is just and right, and enact it in all of our dealings, whether it be in business, profession, labor or trade. Let us be honest, competent and true in all of our endeavors and in all of our activities. By so doing the very Righteousness of GOD is transmitted, as predicted by the inspirationic prediction of the prophet when he said, 'The government is upon His shoulder,' that this might be fulfilled, that the government of our legal and political world might be established in righteousness, yea, the Righteousness of GOD.
If you retrace your thoughts back to our Bible history, yea, the present history of our world, you find that all of our legal and political government is founded upon the Bible, from the foundation of the laws that were given to man from GOD. Those laws by which we are living, they are the abstractions, or extractions whichever, of the Laws of GOD to the children of men, a good many of them, through Moses and others. This is in the making of our present national or Federal Government. The enactment of the Laws of God as given to Moses and to others, we are requested to enact these law in our business, profession, labor and trade under our present political government.
Then I say, the government itself must firstly recognize the foundation upon which it is founded. Hence, I AM calling all political representatives and officials back to the foundation by which you have been elected and by which you have been selected. Those of our political officials and legal representatives who are filling the different political and legal official duties today, they were elected — firstly selected — from some cause. According to the conviction of the masses of the people, such individuals who are selected and elected as officials, they are the best men or women for the jobs, according to the convictions of others. For this cause they have been selected and elected.
Then I say we are endeavoring to get the Good that is in GOD, and in a righteous and just-thinking people, into politics and into our governmental affairs, that the government might not be run by the wickedness of corruption and the corruptibleness of the politicians, but that the government might be run by Righteousness, Truth and Justice transmitted from the Almighty.
Ulster county
Then I set before, not only High Falls, but I set before this county in which we are now represented, a Sample and an Example for all humanity, showing you the Spirit of GOD is an expression which will develop in cleanliness, in righteousness, in truth, and in justice, in honesty and in competence.
For this cause I bring before the world, and especially to the officials of the county in which we are now represented, these MY Followers, as a standard we have lifted in Righteousness, in Truth and Justice, in the act of dealing justly and honestly between man and man, that the competence and righteousness of the competent might be transmitted, and that all might be enjoyers of it.
This evening is somewhat the dedication of this particular garage. This is merely a garage that will be used for the accommodation of those of MY co-workers such as may be accommodated here in the dwelling part, and on the lower floor down here used as a public garage to give service to the children of men, to show you the decency of GOD transmitted to them and the cleanliness of GOD as a living reality among the children of men.
For this cause I would not — or MY Followers whichever, would not allow the old shack, the dilapidated shack that was standing here in this place, to remain to be a disgrace to this village. We are advocating a Righteous Government, we are advocating Truth, and nothing less than the Truth, so help you GOD. Then I say, I would not encourage nor allow MY Followers to continue to allow the old dilapidated building that was here to remain here as a disgrace to this community and to this village. The same like manner about all of the places that are under the jurisdiction of MY Followers who are influenced by MY Mind and Spirit.
Then I say, if all of the peoples of the earth would recognize such a Principle and inculcate and reincarnate such an idea in themselves and in their friends to lift up a standard for the children of men, we would have a better world in which to live. We would have better communities, we would have a moral betterment generally, and all of the vices and crimes and debauchery of every kind that have been committed, would not be committed if I from this angle of expression and from this Light of Understanding, in them were represented.
Then I say copy after the fashion I AM showing you. We are not requesting men to give us anything as being termed a religious organization; we are not doing soliciting, begging, nor any such religious custom, but we are lifting up a standard of honesty, of competence and of truth for this people, that the decency of GOD might be represented, and inculcated and reincarnated in all of the community. It has long since been declared, and I re-declare the same,
'Cleanliness is next to Godliness.'
For this cause I represent the real cleanliness and the decency of GOD. I represent the honesty of GOD, and the competence of GOD, transmitted, and represent both it and them inculcated and reincarnated in all of us.
The materialization of these qualities should be our portion, these should be our endeavor, and we should be devoted to bringing about the materialization and the personification of Righteousness, Truth and Justice such as I AM representing in these MY Representatives, Co-workers and Followers.
I would like to say as I aforesaid, the executives of our State, of our county, and even our country, they are selected and elected by a majority vote as a rule, or by those who deem them to be good men. Why? For they desire to have good men and good women in office who will deal justly and be honest between man and man. Therefore they are endeavoring to select and elect the righteous person, the most righteous and just person among the communities, that they might be representatives of the fundamental, the Constitution, and that the Constitution might not be violated, if they believe the Constitution is right.
For this cause we are endeavoring to bring into legalization, the Righteousness of GOD to the children of men, to the best of the understanding of each and all of them. When an official is selected and elected to office, even though he is elected he is sworn in by the Bible that he might bring the Truth of the Spirit of GOD into his official duty and bring it into actuality, that the Truth and the Spirit of Righteousness might be a living reality in all of his activities. This is the reason for men being sworn in by the Bible, to tell the truth and nothing else but the truth, that the Truth of GOD might rule in us all. When this is established, there and then wheresoever the truth reigns there will be the Kingdom, for the Kingdom shall have come.
As I have often stressed as an often rehearsed statement, I quote,
"Where a King reigns there is where his kingdom is."
If you will
allow the King of Peace, the truth of righteousness and of justice in all of your dealings to be enacted, and allow the truth to have full dominion over you, over yours and over your affairs, the Truth is GOD Himself transmitted.
Then you are sworn in by the Bible to tell the truth and nothing else but the truth, so help you GOD, to put into actuality that truth of GOD as transmitted, that the Righteousness of GOD might be inculcated and reincarnated in all of us. When this is done we will have better communities in which to live. We will have a better world generally in which to live, for GOD Himself will be ruling on the throne of the minds of men, and wheresoever a King reigns there is where his kingdom is.
Take these thoughts to consideration and consider once and forever stressfully, I say, wheresoever righteousness , and truth, and justice, have full access in the hearts and lives of men, GOD is Reigning on the throne of their minds. That is the mystery of the Kingdom of GOD. Think not to say within yourselves that I AM merely speaking of these little buildings of clay being the Kingdom of GOD, but jot these thoughts down in your memory once and for all time, when I speak of the Kingdom of GOD I AM speaking of a state of consciousness where GOD alone Reigns on the throne of the minds of men, and where GOD alone has dominion over them.
Select and elect the truth, righteousness, integrity and square dealings in all of your activities. If this is once established within you, there and then you will have the Kingdom, for the Kingdom of GOD cometh not with observation but the Kingdom of GOD is within you when you observe it. How glorious it will be then, to have the very Law of GOD transmitted to the children of men, a Law established under the Constitution and legalized, that we might be governed by the Law of GOD while on earth among them.
When this is established in all of our communities, as with ME and Mine and those who are cooperating, so will it be universally, and none will be able to hinder. You will have victory, over lacks, and wants, and limitations; you will have victory over depressions, you will have victory over hardships and hard times, for GOD Himself will have full dominion on the throne of your mind. 'Wheresoever a king reigns there is where his kingdom is'. Permit the King to Reign on the throne of your mind, permit the King to have full dominion — the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, the Lord and SAVIOUR of you all.
How glorious it is then, to have something to present to the world; something to present that is desirable, that is most essential, for this I say, if you can but observe it, is a sketch and a reflection of what I have done through MY Co-workers, participators, endorsers and friends. You can see definitely, there is something else better coming on.
Permit ME to convey a thought to this community and to all who may desire to be blessed. If you will but copy after the fashion as I have shown you, such s I AM expressing and exemplifying and demonstrating, these expressions of the impersonal, GOD Himself has not 'monopolated' them. GOD Himself does not have a monopoly on them. They are as free for you as they are for HIM. Therefore I say, 'GOD so loved the world that HE gave' those things to HIS children; blessings and blessings beyond measure, beyond your reason to think or ask. The Majesty of the ALMIGHTY will perform it in bringing these things about, if you will but let this Truth have free access in you.
I say, as a Sample and Example I come. Copy after the fashion I have shown you and am demonstrating in the midst of the children of men. Let the world see and know, you do not have to go to a community nor live in a community, and be a public charge. You are not expressing true citizenry if you are a public charge. The true citizenry of this country should be the true citizenry of GOD. If this is true, then you will not express the spirit of dependence, but to the extreme reverse you will express the spirit of independence, you will not become to be a public charge.
For this cause I Stand, and for this purpose I came, to lift up a standard as a sample and as an example for all humanity. Over and above every opposition, over and above every criticism, over and above every accusation, a standard I have lifted of which I am not ashamed. What said the apostle by his inspirationic prediction? Although it was iterated by him I reiterate the same —
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST for it is the Power of GOD unto Salvation to everyone that believeth."
This Gospel which I preach daily in MY actuated words of expression that I am teaching daily in MY daily activities
among you, I am not ashamed of it for it is the Power of GOD and it will lift you above all undesirable conditions, and will cause you to stand where you would fall.
As I say, above every opposition, above every criticism, that which I am stressing as the Standard of Righteousness, Truth and Justice, I have lifted as a Sample and as an Example for other people. Now put into practice the Golden Rule and establish it within yourselves internally firstly, and then externally, and in your surroundings, in your business, profession, labor or trade GOD will abundantly bless you and cause you to be a light for all mankind.
What said JESUS concerning this mystery?
"Ye are the light of the world."
The Law of the Spirit of Life that was in CHRIST JESUS will make you free from the law of sin and death, which is the law of limitations, lacks, wants, adverse and undesirable conditions. It will lift you above all depressions, it will give you your real emancipation. This law is it of which I am expressing and am demonstrating in the midst of the congregation. How glorious it is to observe it. Then I say the Law of the Spirit of Life that was in CHRIST JESUS transmitted, has been reincarnated and again transmitted, and from this Law I have drafted the Righteous Government Platform from the righteous minds of the children of men, that they might live and do and be even as I am.
This Law will lift you up where you were cast down. It will emancipate you where you were enslaved. It will give you health where you were sickly, for the joy that passes all human understanding will fill you with merriness, that glorious medicine of which Solomon was telling you. Solomon declared,
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."
But the original was,
"A merry heart doeth good for it is a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."
When you are broken spirited or broken-hearted you will become to be sickly, afflicted, and uncomfortable from every angle expressible. You will be more susceptive to sickness, germs, and other contagions, for your bodies are weakened when you are feeble-minded, and when you are mentally and spiritually afflicted.
The physical body as the outward expression is a sketch and a reflection of your mental and spiritual conception. Then I say, conceive ideas of perfection and put them on. Bring them to fruition, and your bodies will eventually be the outward expression of them. Then I say I have called for a law within a law, the Law of GOD to the children of men, that all mankind might recognize Him in the legalization of all things, that all legality might recognize that by which they have taken the oath. Every official selected and elected, he is sworn into office by the Bible or by the Name of the Almighty. He has promised to do that which is just and right according to his official duty, so help him GOD, and he has taken a vow by the Name of GOD. If he has not actually kissed the Bible he is unknowingly doing the same, for he has taken his oath by the Name of GOD and by the Bible, to do according to the Bible.
Then I say, when men fail to do those things they have broken their promise. In other words they have made a breach of the promise, and they have broken the vow that they have made with their GOD by the endorsement of the Almighty. Then I say, let us select and elect officials to official duty, not only in this community but in all communities, those who are just and those who are honest, those who are competent and those who are true, and those who will live and do and endorse the Constitution and its Amendments even as ye do. Any prospective official, any candidate for office, who will violate the Constitution and its Amendments, such a candidate or such a prospective official should not be selected and should not be elected.
We are endeavoring to insert and inject Righteousness, Truth and Justice according to the official duties of the different officials in politics and into legality, that Righteousness might have free access among us, and unrighteousness and debauchery of every kind might no longer have access as the corruptible politicians have been representing.
Then I say, we shall have a Righteous Government. Upon this Righteous Government Platform we stand, and we shall continue to lift up the Standard in the actuated words of expression, not only in words as in speaking to a person, but in our actuated words of expression, as actions speak louder than words. I cannot tell you in the human language, for the human language is inadequate with all of its vocabularies to tell you in words, the great significance of the Presence of GOD among you. What I am just slightly telling you is a slight sketch of a reflection of a percent of a fraction of a grain of the reality of what is actually going on. As I said in the dedication of this particular garage here as a business place and yet as a private garage, I said, let your minds rest assured that this was not devised by man. It was not devised by man, but by the Spirit of the Presence of GOD. It is a Standard that I have lifted for the consideration of this people, and I endeavor to continue to lift up this Standard and expand it from shore to shore and from land to land. I endeavor to continue to express the spirit of progressiveness, success and prosperity, and to express the spirit of competence, honesty and truth, and establish it wheresoever I go. Those of MY Followers wheresoever they are, they will cooperate with ME.
Then I say, according to MY version, religion and all of your life's existence should be considered practical. According to MY version you should not make impractical the reality of GOD'S Presence, neither make impractical the reality of the Spirit of Religion within you. Let the practicality of religion, your sincere devotion according to your respective religious conviction, come forth into expression as a sample and as an example of true practicality and practicalness. When you allow this to come forth, men will be able to see, men will be able to enjoy, the blessing of your GOD.
As I was saying today, in the different communities, stop and consider whensoever you can save from one to two, to three and four cents on a gallon of gasoline as you stop at the gasoline stations owned and operated by MY Followers that are in MY Spirit and MY Mind and controlled by same, you are being blessed by MY Spirit. My Spirit is giving the consumer or the user of gasoline, from one to two to three cents, every time he buys a gallon of gasoline. That is what MY Presence is worth to you. Just in that particular instance just take it to consideration, and as with the gasoline so with the barber shops, tailor shops, shoe repair shops, and all of the different places of business. You find MY Spirit is freely giving to the public through MY Followers, through MY Co-workers, and through those who are led by MY Sprit. That is what I am speaking about — of righteousness. I am speaking of enacting righteousness in business, profession, labor and trade, and in all of our daily activities, until our religious conviction will be a blessing to others as well as to ourselves spiritually.
What profit would our religion be if we would hoard up our religious ecstasy in ourselves individually? But if our religious conviction may make us honest, and competent, and true; cause us to repay all of our old bills such as we never would have paid, why then our religious conviction and our religious ecstasy is of some practical service and of some real use to those with whom you come in contact. Just think of millions and millions the universe over returning, paying all old bills and returning all stolen goods or paying for the same, such as they never would have done before I came.
You would not imagine, but yet it is true, there are more than a million dollars a day being saved by MY Spirit and MY Presence, and by MY Work and by MY Mission, and being given where it would not be given, had I not come. Oh, how marvelous it will be when all the universe shall have inculcated and reincarnated Righteousness, Truth and Justice — the Righteous Government Platform as we have it — and it shall have been legalized universally and established in legality, and all mankind shall realize there is no other.
Just think of it! Going to the barber shop, getting your hair trimmed; whatsoever you save on that particular visit to the shop, that is saved by MY Presence, by MY Spirit and by MY Mind. My Spirit and MY religious conviction is giving that to you. Every penny you save on buying gas, MY Spirit and MY Mind is giving that to the consumer. Every dollar you save on buying a suit of clothing, MY Spirit and MY Mind are giving that to you. Aren't you glad! Every penny you save on groceries or anything else of that sort, My Spirit and MY Mind and the Influence of MY Presence came giving that to you gratis. I did not come to rob the community but rather to help the community. Aren't you glad! That is the Righteous Government which we are exhibiting and which we are exemplifying, which we are advocating and demonstrating in the midst of the children of men.
Then I say, when you recognize such a government and cooperate with ME harmoniously, I will be a blessing to the whole community, and will lift them all out of the depressions, lacks, and wants, and limitations such as they have been undergoing. As with an individual so with a nation, and as with a nation so with all nations. If these MY Followers can be lifted from the welfares, from lacks, and wants, and from limitations, all the whole creation can be lifted from such conditions, and the billions and billions of dollars the tax payers are paying out in giving loafers money as charity in the name of the welfare, the tax payers would be saving yearly and almost monthly, by accepting of this Message and by being governed according to MY version.
A word for your consideration in reference to this Real Estate Development and Improvement Tax Exemption Bill which I have proposed to be represented: I have requested all of MY Co-workers, Followers, friends, sympathizers and admirers as MY constituents, as the constituents of the representatives in Congress to petition their respective representatives in each state in the union to introduce a real estate development and improvement tax exemption bill. This would save the tax payers millions of dollars; not only those of MY Followers, Co-workers and immediate friends, but would save the tax-payers generally the universe over, in this country and in all other countries millions of dollars, for men who are hoarding up their money would release it and put it into circulation, and would give thousands and thousands of people work where there is unemployment, and come pretty near solving the unemployment situation immediately.
We have not asked the government nor the representative of the towns nor the states nor the country for a general tax exemption. We have only asked for a real estate five-year improvement and development tax exemption. This is to say, to be exempt from taxes for your improvements and for the development of your property. Not the former tax rates, under the former tax valuation to be exempt, unless it is too much. But such as your property has been assessed for, if it has not been over assessed, request your respective representatives in Congress to introduce a bill for a five year development and improvement tax exemption on all improvements and all developments. If you wish to build a community you should be exempt. If you desire to build a city the size of New York City, you should be exempt for five years from the time you build such buildings. You should be exempt from taxation on any improvements made, or any developments made.
Now why is it I presented it that way? It is because it is good for all who are concerned. It will be as much for the government as it is for you, and as much for you as it is for the government. Now if you are paying five percent for Federal taxes — if your Federal tax costs you five percent for the exchange of a dollar, and the dollar being exchanged from a hundred to a hundred and twenty two times in one year — changing hands from a hundred to a hundred and twenty-two times in one year and the government receiving five percent Federal taxes, you can see how much the government would gain in turn for giving a general exemption on improvements and developments of real property, for every time a dollar turns over Uncle Sam receives five cents for that. When you spend that dollar, Uncle Sam receives five cents when you spend it. When the other one spends it, Uncle Sam receives five cents more.
Can you not see, when millions and billions of dollars are invested in real property, something that is stationary and cannot be taken away from the country, cannot be taken away from your communities, can you not see, Uncle Sam will gain billions and billions of dollars, and you will save by the exchange of such? Not only so, but you will be employed where you are not employed, and still that dollar is changing hands thousands and thousands of times by your employment and by your personal activities, and by you going in business, and by your pleasure, and by your different amusement places, and enjoyment such as you might be enjoying. Every time you exchange a dollar, Uncle Sam is gaining,and there are millions and millions of dollars today that are hoarded up by those who have money and will not put the money to an exchange according to the scripture. It is not doing you any good, and neither them themselves. It is not doing the government any good by the money being hoarded up and not released, but by putting the money into circulation it will be good for all.
A dollar is as good news. It is good for all who desire to enjoy such news. If you all desire to enjoy such news you will listen to hear the good news when the dollars and cents are put into circulation. It is good news and glad tidings to all, and all will eventually enjoy and be benefited thereby.
Therefore I say, petition your respective representatives in Congress, not only in this state but in all of the states in the union, to represent a bill for tax exemption on all improvements and all developments made on real property, and the tax exemption to last five years. When this is done if they are mindful and skilful as I may say, no doubt it would be extended from then on until everything would be lifted out of the depression, and they would not have to raise budgets to meet these different obligations.
As with all organizations, so with a nation. This is not an organization that I am representing, saving an international organization, the human race. Nevertheless, apparently from a personal point of view as it may apparently be an organization to you, as with an organization so with the nation. By MY Followers working cooperatively, and by putting their money to an exchange, they all are wonderfully supplied, and not one of MY real Followers is on the welfare. If this can be done by those commonly known as an organization, it can be done by all of the nation; not only this nation but all of the nations of our present civilization, and all humanity will realize, the unity of spirit, of mind, of aim and of purpose is the hope of the Redemption of all of us. Just the unity of it! How glorious it is to observe it!
Now I would like to say, when we petitioned the town boards of this county for such an exemption it was not for those of MY Followers alone, but it was for the benefit of all people. If all of our communities in this county were privileged to improve the property without taxation, and were privileged to improve and develop the property, thousands of people would improve the property and make the community generally, a better place in which to live. In all of the different communities you will have better streets, you will have better highways, you will have better housing conditions, you will have a cleaner community in your surroundings, and better sanitary conditions generally. You will not have as many mosquitoes and such as that — insects — for cleanliness will be dispelling and exterminating such insects, and things that are not helpful for the children of men. That is what cleanliness will do.
That Spirit of Truth as exemplified among you is the spirit of cleanliness I am transmitting that all humanity might be partakers of it and come into possession of their rightful inheritance, and enjoy GOD'S actual Presence.
Now I would like to say, because this building here has been built, it does not say that MY Followers would not build more. They are holding back because they have not yet received a guarantee of tax exemption for all improvements. This was something that was actually necessary to be done, because the dilapidated run-down building that was here on the corner was a disgrace to this community. Any other building such as that was, in and under our jurisdiction — MY Followers' jurisdiction — especially if it is on the public highway, we mean to straighten them out and consider it a small thing to do. But I wish to further make it known, I have information from MY Co-workers, Followers and friends, that they are willing and ready to invest a goodly sum of money in real estate development and improvement, if they can and will be tax-exempt. Not only those of MY Followers, but others, but I do know definitely those of MY Followers would be willing to invest about fifteen million dollars in development and improvements on real property, if they could and would be tax-exempt for at least five years. Remember, MY Followers are not confined to Ulster County alone. I have millions and millions all over the country and in other countries, and they are willing and ready to cooperate with ME in any way that I deem to be endorsable.
Now let us live in this recognition, and from lacks, and wants, and limitations, adverse and undesirable conditions, all of us will be lifted, and those who have been underprivileged will be blessed abundantly. The insignificant will be lifted, and all will enjoy such privileges as we are enjoying ourselves individually. I thank you.
Peace, Everyone! Good Health, Good Will and Good Appetite for Every Body, with Good Manners and Good Behavior. I had almost lost sight of what I arose to say, as I usually do. I am often taken away. Truly might it have been said John was carried away in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. Every day is the Lord's Day with ME, therefore I am usually carried away whensoever I arise to speak. What I arose to say in the beginning, we have visiting friends with us. Those of our visiting friends are invited to speak. If we have any officials under the sound of our voice we are glad to have you with us, and we are pleased with you to rejoice, and if you have anything to say on the sanitary condition of our communities, we are glad to hear from you. We are here to cooperate in any constructive way for the advancement of moral betterment generally, and for the improvement of things that surround us. If you have anything to say politically, socially, religiously or otherwise you are welcome to do so, for we are co-workers together with you in every good and just act of your endeavors from religion down to street cleaning, with every other expression, for that is what we call religion. I thank you. Any person or persons who would like to have a word to say, you are welcome to speak. You may speak volitionally as we do, which is to say move voluntarily as we do, if you wish to. If you do not wish to move as we do, give us your name, address and profession, and we will gladly introduce you according to custom. I thank you.
Peace, Everyone! I have been informed that Mr. Leroy Krom is here. If so, we would be pleased to have him say a word in any way he wishes to, the meeting is free.
Mr. Leroy Krom responded as follows:
'I did not come here to make a speech, and did not expect to be called upon. I am very much interested in your talk on the exemption of taxes for improvements. I am one of the assessors and chairman on the Board of Assessors in the town of Marbletown. We cannot do anything unless the town board gives us an order. I am also Treasurer of the High Falls Civic Association, an association that is endeavoring to clean up High Falls, and I feel sure thatour organization will be willing to work with You. I am very glad that I came out to this meeting. I have been enlightened a whole lot, and I have contended all along that it has been a good thing for High Falls that FATHER DIVINE came here.'
Following Mr. Krom's remarks, FATHER spoke again as follows:
Peace, Everyone! You all have heard the statement of our tax assessor in this community of Marbletown and I am sure you all enjoyed his speech. As I say, we are here to cooperate not only in Marbletown but we are here to build up every other community if the authorities will permit us to do so. Of course, as I said in reference to this particular building, you all know it was in such a dilapidated condition it was a disgrace to the community and we would not allow such to be here so long as I have influence over MY Followers who are the owners of this property. I could not and would not feel justified in encouraging them to do something that would be detrimental to them, but I can and will say I am pleased and am proud to do something that is constructive, and encourage them to do the same. I am pleased to say, this of course was something absolutely necessary. That is why I encouraged it as a Spiritual adviser to MY Followers. The Spiritual advice consists of everything in this life, it consists of business, profession, labor or trade, and even your domestic surroundings in your community such as in and around your buildings, for if you do not do those things right and keep things in order, your spirit and your peace will be disturbed; therefore you need Spiritual advice on material things that you might always stay spiritually revived.
Now I would like to say, if there are any other visiting friends, any others of our neighbors in this building, or any legal representative or politician, or whatsoever you may be representing in the world of business, profession, labor or trade, we are always glad to hear from you, and would be pleased to hear you just give us a word of encouragement, if it may be termed encouragement, for I believe we may feel a little fatigued at times."
As one arose to speak and then sat down again, FATHER continued:
"Peace, Everyone! Now do not draw back unless you wish to. I know you were moved to speak. I know you were obliged to see and to know, this work is worth considering. You are obliged to believe there is a reality in what is actually being done; the transmission of spiritual things to the materiel plane, and the practicality of the Spirit and of GOD among the children of men, that religion might not merely be a mythological thing. I thank you."
Peace, Everyone! I would like to say to those of our visiting friends who are not well acquainted with this World and with this Nation which I am representing as a Pioneer and as a Pilgrim Traveler, your forefathers came to this country seeking religious liberty. It may be that some of their characteristics are reincarnated. They were seeking freedom of assembly and of speech, yea, even the press in that day and at that time, even though they may not have known so much about those things as we know today. Nevertheless, as pioneers they sought a country.
I am stressing the thought to let you see and know, as they were strangers and pilgrims in this country, even so strange am I and this movement with the light of understanding I am representing. It is a stranger and a pilgrim in a far land, in a foreign land, far away from the home of the Standard of the place where I stand. But as you see it on MY immediate Staff, Co-workers and friends, and in these different audiences, I am bringing mankind back from whence they were driven. They were driven from the Garden of Eden in Adam. Now I am bringing them back to such a recognition as they were conscious of in the beginning.
In the beginning there were but two divisions. GOD created He male and female. There was a division between the sexes. I endorse it and stressfully endorse it, but there was not a division between nationalities, races, creeds and colors. In the beginning GOD created He male and female. This was the great creation of GOD, and out of this came forth the nations from whence all nations sprung, but remember, out of that one blood GOD formed all nations. I am bringing them together again in one as they were in the Garden of Eden that there be naught but the one division among them, and that is the division between males and females. It looks beautiful that way too, does it not? You feel good that way! ("Yes FATHER." was the happy shout.) You do not feel all 'prejudiciated', you feel free from those tendencies. Where you have been resentful and filled with prejudice, and others would be 'prejudiciated' through you being prejudiced, you do not feel that way now, and because you are not prejudiced others are not prejudiced to you. Therefore the atmosphere you are creating and the environment in which you are living, the environment which you are creating for yourselves and for others, will not be 'prejudiciated' to cause others to be partakers of your prejudice as you have been before I came.
Now we shall havethe Truth of the Righteous Government and we shall express the truth of religion, and the truth of politics, the truth of the Constitution and its Amendments, and the Declaration of Independence. All of these documents and constitutions and amendments, all of them shall be a living reality in each and all of us. How glorious it is to observe it! To be a real American citizen you must produce the Constitution and its Amendments with the spirit and the meanings of it, and bring it to fruition within yourself as an individual. Live it and express it accurately. There and then you are an American citizen even if you are not called an American.
The Declaration of Independence is one of the great documents to be inculcated and reincarnated, and the spirit and the meanings of it within you should be brought to fruition, that you might be a real American citizen. How glorious it is to observe it. When this is brought to fruition in you, you will declare your individual independence even as the nation declared it as a country. But you cannot declare your individual independence so long as you are on the welfares, and so long as you are going around soliciting and begging, so long as you are going around even in such an audience as this, and asking the public to help you. I cannot see where the true independence is represented unless you can by some means give something for whatsoever you receive, in a practical way, if you desire to express your real independence.
Then I say, let us express it individually, severally and collectively, and bring the spirit and the meanings of the Constitution and its Amendments to fruition within us. Live both it and them, and express it in deeds and in actions, and bring the spirit of the Declaration of Independence to fruition within you, live it and express it accurately by being independent, by being competent, by being true, by refusing to get anything for nothing, and by being absolutely independent in every manner expressible. By so doing you will be expressing the spirit and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence, and you will be an American citizen in reality as far as that is concerned, but not until then.
All of us should produce that which we are representing, and bring them to fruition in us — the spirit and the meanings of such things — there and then we are real representatives of whatsoever we are representing.
Now we want to bring this truth more effectively to the public, but unless we can and will get tax exemption for developments and improvements, not only in this county but in all of the State and all of the states in the union not only for MY Followers but for others, I will not encourage them to release their money unless they can release it where they will be secured and it will be a matter of impossibility for them to lose the value of it. I thank you.