FATHER DIVINE at His Desk
This was indeed a glorious occasion filled with the inspirationic Words of Spirit and Life from our LORD and SAVIOR which drew forth many testimonies of Praise and appreciation from the many visitors, for HIS Wonderful Work and Accomplishments in establishing Righteousness, Truth and Justice in the world today.
FATHER previously gave another beautiful Lecture on this day. Following the remarks of Judge Rainey of Philadelphia, FATHER'S Message brings forth many mysteries of how GOD works in order that the Kingdom of heaven might be established universally among this people. Blessed REDEEMER, We Thank THEE!
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber. FATHER speaks following Judge Rainey's remarks:)
FATHER Speaks as follows:
PEACE, EVERYONE: Good Health, Good Will and a Good Appetite for everyone; with Good Manners, Good Behavior, All Success and All Prosperity--these and all other blessings I AM representing and I AM bringing into outer expression for as many as will receive them!
At this instance I would just like to say to Magistrate Rainey from Philadelphia, it is a pleasure to have him and to know that he is interested in MY Work enough to give us an invitation as a public citizen of Philadelphia, to visit his city to bring the message of peace and brotherly love into actuality.
I would just like to say, it is true, those who do no know, look upon this audience as a large audience, but this is MY Private Residence and I merely serve the mid-day Banquet here; hence it is a matter of course with ME today, as each and every day when I AM in the city Personally. But at One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Street near Seventh Avenue--One Hundred and Fifty-two to One Hundred and Sixty West One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Street at midnight, and from thence on until four or five o'clock in the morning, I AM usually serving the general Banquet for the masses of MY immediate Coworkers and Followers. We also serve the public more there than here because it is more of a public place. We have a very large private dining-room there and of course much larger than this one.
But I AM saying that to say this: this is a matter of course with us, and if it was convenient for the Judge to attend some of our public meetings just as a regular matter of course daily at One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Street and at some of the larger places, he would be astounded.
They cannot get in this small place as a private residence. Of course, it is true the dining-room has been enlarged for the purpose of accommodating as many of the immediate Coworkers as possible, but at One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Street it is much larger and we can accommodate many more daily.
Now I would like to say, it is a coincidence that Magistrate Rainey called ME yesterday, I think it was, and tried, or desired to make an appointment to call on ME some day this week. As usual, I could not, nor cannot make appointments, because I must be moved by MY Spirit from the within, even though deeming it an official call, in a way of speaking, I told him and invited him to come if it was convenient for him to come at any time and if it was possible for ME to see him I would be glad to see him. I AM glad to have him here this afternoon, but as a coincidence further, Sunday I had the pleasure of having some thirty-five or forty of the chief executives and the leaders of the "Friends." I entertained them here, serving a Banquet here Sunday afternoon. The chief leaders and highest officials of the Quaker Church from all over the country were here and I entertained them. I say it is somewhat a coincidence apparently because they are supposed to be the founders of brotherly love as known and advertised throughout the world and supposed to be generally known, especially in Philadelphia.
Then I say, it was quite a coincidence. This group and many other different groups from the different colleges and schools Sunday evening attended our regular public mass meeting at Rockland Palace, one place at which we can accommodate a goodly number, some say around ten or twelve thousand. The place was filled to capacity and overflowing, having many speakers and representatives of the different groups of the different churches and the different schools and the different organizations. We did have such a meeting as the gentleman said from Texas, that man has not seen unless he sees one like this one. We call these our meetings when they are public meetings like the meetings in the Rockland Palace every Sunday, as mass meetings, general mass meetings, because they are not confined nor bound to religion as men count religion alone, but in our daily activities we put religion into practice and consider that which is termed religion should be made real, tangible and practical in our daily activities. Therefore in business, profession, labor or trade or whatsoever you may be representing, so long as it is legitimate or Evangelical, you are welcome to come and speak in those public meetings, for we believe in this Democracy.
I speak quite often concerning the mystery of how we believe in being real American citizens. I do not believe I could be a real American citizen if I put a barrier on any person or persons because of their religious conviction or because of their political affiliation! I feel that we should represent this Democracy according to the Constitution and its Amendments, and one point especially stress I for your consideration: I believe that we should stress vividly the freedom of speech, the freedom of peaceful assemblage and the freedom of the press! It is true that I do oppose or criticize the press for using prejudicial terms concerning MYSELF and others, when they use those terms for the purpose of lowration; for such lowrated terms as have been used and such prejudicial slander as the publications of our advanced civilization have been using for the purpose of lowration and for the purpose of disgracing the Movement and others, naturally I do oppose it; but yet I say the freedom of speech and the freedom of peaceful assemblage and the freedom of the press in MY Consideration is considered. Can you not see the mystery?
But as I say, I believe that we should produce this FREEDOM within ourselves and give others the freedom to speak accordingly, buy yet each and every person intuitively, according to MY Version, should be governed righteously, that they might deal justly in their divers illustrations and in their divers messages and addresses that they might give to the public. Hence as I say, I stress the Constitution and its Amendments! I stress the Declaration of Independence and the spirit and the meaning of it as the Fundamental. I stress it vividly; MY followers adhere to it. They take on the spirit and the meaning of the Constitution and its Amendments, though they may not all, every one of them, be American born citizens from a physical point of view; but yet being born nationally or politically or righteously or Constitutionally according to the Constitution, into this Teaching, therefore they are American citizens characteristically, if not nationally or from a nationalized point of view!
Hence I say, it is a privilege to know you are right and then go ahead! We do not think we are right, because when you are persecuted and prosecuted for Righteousness' sake, you know it is Righteousness for which you are persecuted, and as I said in that Message that was proofread for consideration--I have not got away from it yet--if JESUS as an illegitimate child, according to the version of men, could bring forth Himself into expression as a Standard of Perfection, He must be GOD to do such a thing!
When men through the press have tried to slay ME, as the press' pen is mightier than the sword, it has slain every man that it could slay but it could not slay ME! I have declared,
'MY Tongue is as a pen of a ready writer,'
according to Psalms, the forty-fifth.
'My Heart has been inditing a good matter. Mine eyes have seen the King!'
Aren't you glad!
By this I say, they have striven to slay ME with the pen through the prejudicial news press, but now they have changed, if you watch it, because they find that they are doing themselves more harm than they could ever dare do ME when they speak antagonistically or slanderously against ME, because I AM that live wire! Mentally and spiritually they contact ME and they contact MY electric current of this live wire! It is transmitted and it shocks them! Mentally and spiritually they feel the effect of it.
When all of MY followers stopped reading the prejudiced newspapers they felt the effect of it though they had been using all sorts of methods to try to keep the Truth down. But as I say, I stress and live and produce and bring to fruition the spirit and the meaning of the Constitution and its Amendments and cause MY followers to be self-respecting, law-abiding and law-respecting citizens.
Therefore I appeal to the general public to accept of this Message and bring it into legality, the Righteousness of GOD as I have spiritually or religiously established it, and when this is done, we will curb crime, not only in the city of New York and in the City of Philadelphia, but we will curb it universally and will bring about Righteousness, Truth and Justice, for not one of MY true followers would smoke a cigarette! They go to the extreme in modesty that they might bring about Righteousness through self-denial and consecration. Can you not see the mystery? Not one of MY true followers would drink any sort of intoxicating liquor!
As the speaker said a little while ago about they not using make-ups; well, they do not do it because they feel like it is something that is false. They feel like they are trying to make someone think they are what they are really not. Can you not see the mystery? But still we oppose and criticize segregated terms used concerning ourselves and others because segregated terms brand you lowly. They are used for the purpose of lowration in a great measure.
So it is a privilege to observe what the Spirit has actually done and what it is now doing. I hope that--at least, I know the time is near at hand you will see; not only you here in this city, but I would like to say to Judge Rainey, he will see and know I AM working in the affairs of your city today. You have never heard of such a political and a legal shakedown as you have it in your own city and elsewhere! The Spirit of MY Presence is going forth conquering and to conquer! Some thought Mr. Dewey would be the proper man for the presidency in the next presidential election. He may be for all you know or for all I might say as far as that is concerned, but not because he has got at crime in this city; not just because of that. The time is ripe and now is, that crime must be curbed wheresoever it is found! Mr. Dewey has got at crime in this city and state. It is wonderful! And he has accomplished a great work in his effort to curb crime, it is true, but do you not see I AM working in Jersey getting at the corruption among the officials? Is it not true that I AM down in Louisiana now, getting at the corruption among the officials? Is it not true that I AM in Buffalo now, getting at the corruption among the officials? Is it not true that I AM in Connecticut now, getting at the corruption among the officials?
It goes to show you it is not by power nor by might but it is by MY Spirit, therefore MY Spirit will do it with or without ME or Mr. Dewey or any other person as a man! That is what I AM talking about! GOD, through HIS Condescension, will use individuals in this place and that place or any other place when they are placed in a position to fill an official duty, in the act of getting at corruption, for the corrupt politicians must be exposed; therefore, those who are fortunate enough to be in that position where they can expose them, naturally they must expose them! That is the mystery? But it is GOD'S Spirit doing it! Can you not see the mystery? Truly might have one said,
'MY Glory I will not give to another, neither MY Praise to graven images!'
The glory belongs to GOD with or without a Body! That is why I say, I, as a Person,
nor any other individual as a person, from a personal point of view as you might
term it to be that man or that woman, would not do it and they cannot do it and
they shall not do it; although through the condescension of the real Majesty
of your majesty, GOD may reach the nations and get at corruption among them;
HE may do it through this one or that one or whosoever may be filling official
duty in the place where he could get at them, but it is not confined to matter,
I have long since declared. So it is a wonderful thought.
Now wheresoever an official exposes corruption among the officials openly and does a great work, the most of the time, people, the masses, look up to that person as a person. It is not the person; it is GOD working through the person! Your radio receiving set will receive a Message and millions of others will receive it. Can you not see the mystery? That same Message is broadcast from yonder broadcasting station and thousands and millions are dialing in on that same message; they get the same identical words that you are getting. So it is in this great mystery of the work of which we are now doing.
I would like to say to the Judge, we are working in Philadelphia, we have not over-looked it, but if a personal invitation is given and they require MY Personal Presence and MY Coworkers to appear on some special occasion, it may be possible to do so and I appreciate the invitation. But I want to say, I AM not depending on MY physical Body nor the physical bodies of MY followers especially, for,
'It is not by power nor by might but it is by MY Spirit!'
That is the reason MY Spirit can and will do it, you see, because I AM not depending
on MY Body to do it. If I would depend on MY Body or on MY Followers' bodies
to do it, you see, why, it could not be done! If I would depend on the chief
executive of our country to do what we are endeavoring to do, why, you see it
could not be done! If I depend on the chief official as a person, the chief official's
duty I recognize! I have often stressed--it might be interesting, at least, to
the Judge, to hear MY version concerning a prisoner going before the court of
law, of the which it is not to be considered as something that should be looked
upon as a person mortal-mindedly receiving such honor, but I have long since
taught for the last twenty-five or thirty or maybe fifty years, MY followers
and hearers, when you go before a judge and you say, "Judge, your honor," do
not look upon the man as a person nor consider you are honoring mortality but
the office he is filling is the transmission of the judgeship degree for your
great Creator, for he was sworn in by the Bible to fill his official duty. You
see the mystery? Therefore when I say "Judge, your honor," I AM honoring
CHRIST, and CHRIST if you are true and the judge is true, will come forth into
expression and will judge the people with equity wheresoever the judge is sitting
on his bench! Can you not see the mystery? So it is a privilege to observe the
mystery and see the psychological truth and how it is brought into expression
in you and in others when you observe it in them and call if forth into expression.
"Judge, your honor!" Why do you say that? Without the degree and the office and the honor of the office he is filling he would not be a judge! You see the mystery? The judgeship degree is from above! What said the Apostle's Creed concerning the mystery?
'I believe in GOD the FATHER ALMIGHTY, the MAKER of heaven and earth, and in HIS only begotten SON, Who was conceived by the HOLY GHOST and was born of the Virgin Mary. HE suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead and buried, He descended to the "other place," it says, "and the third day HE Arose from thence and from whence HE began to Judge the quick and the dead.'
Now the judge on the bench should be honest, he should be true! He is sworn in
by the Bible or by the Name of the ALMIGHTY, to judge the people and the affairs
of the people with equity! Can you not see the mystery? Hence HE, CHRIST, Ascended
to GOD and from thence HE sat at the right Hand of GOD to Judge the quick and
the dead.
The Judge is transmitted from the Throne of GOD to the judge's bench and if it is a just and an honest judge, he will judge the people with equity. It will be GOD HIMSELF or CHRIST transmitted judging this people if he is judging the quick.
Now the judge as a rule judges many of the quick but the coroner judges the dead. He is sworn in by the Bible too, I mean from a physical, from a literal point of view. Can you not see the mystery?
How glorious it is to know the significance of the office of such high officials and what they are required to do and required to be! Hence it is CHRIST in them supposed to judge this people, both the quick and the dead, and when you say, "Judge, your honor," do not look at the personality nor the man at all but behold the GOD, the CHRIST, the JUDGE of the whole world Who is sitting behind the robes! I thank you. I thank you. I thank you.
The New Day: July 20, 1939 A.D.F.D., Pg. 27
At this time Judge Rainey arose spontaneously from his seat at the Banquet Table and made himself known and spoke very enthusiastically of FATHER'S Work, stating however, that this was just his first visit and that he really could not be expected to learn all about this great Work in one day.
Judge Rainey Speaks as Follows:
"PEACE, everyone: My name happens to be Rainey and I happen to be a Judge in the City of Philadelphia. I have been immensely interested in the proceedings that have taken place here since I have walked through your door. I feel that I have profited by my visit here this afternoon more than words can say. I was particularly interested a few moments ago when FATHER spoke along the line of hypocritical people, and one of the first things that I want to say, FATHER and FATHER'S followers, is that I am far from a hypocrite, nor am I one who has any sympathy whatsoever with one who is a hypocrite. I believe in speaking straight from the shoulder.
"I have been slightly interested in the Work of FATHER DIVINE and HIS followers for a couple of years, but like millions of other people, for some unknown reason, I have never had an opportunity to see for myself, consequently I formed opinions that have been pro and con, with no justification, if you please, for any definite formulation in my mind because of the fact that I have not been able to see before. That is no one's fault but mine.
"We all know that the world was not made in a day, and I feel quite certain that FATHER DIVINE, knowing HIM as I do--and I feel that I know HIM very well after sitting for an hour or so today, but of course not well enough; but I feel that I know HIM well enough for HIM to understand when I say that, as I have already spoken, the world was not made in a day. It takes time. It is marvelous! Wonderful!...the things that have been done by FATHER DIVINE and by HIS followers through HIS guidance.
"I say sincerely, FATHER, that I am absolutely amazed at some of the things that have taken place because of YOU. I had no idea whatsoever that some of these things were going on--most of them. I was particularly interested because of the field in which I am, in the remarks made by the Sergeant a few moments ago. They were impressed upon me in an indelible way because I wondered if there was not some way that FATHER DIVINE'S great Works can show fruits in the City from which I hail, as well as they do in this great City of New York.
"Crime is a prevailing thing in the City of Philadelphia, and while I can truthfully say that during the past year and a half in which I have held office, that of course, I have never had any follower of FATHER DIVINE before me. I am not aware, it is true, of the type of fine work that is being done here in New York City by FATHER DIVINE and HIS followers, being done so far as crime is concerned in Philadelphia, and I am even willing to put forth a plea, if that is what should be put forth, to ask that FATHER DIVINE help us in the City that has been known for years and years as the `City of Brotherly Love,' to cut down some of that dastardly crime that is committed by people who know little about law and who care little about the rights and privileges of other people. We need such help, and I feel certain that FATHER DIVINE would be welcome.
"I want to say that the criticism, and I listened very carefully when it was said that `every knock is a boost,' and that is true--every knock is a boost; and I say after sitting here this afternoon that the reason people criticize FATHER DIVINE is because they don't know HIM. The axiom is to live and learn, and it is unfair to criticize anybody or anything that you don't know anything about. If you don't know, you are given the same amount of gray matter as anyone else is given, and it is your duty--you are duty bound--if you have any intelligence whatsoever, to find out for yourself and not take the word of somebody who doesn't know.
"It stands to reason, however, that with all the criticism, unjust criticism that has been heaped upon the brow of FATHER DIVINE, and with all the efforts that have been put forth in an effort to accuse HIM unjustly of doing something that is unlawful, with all of those efforts, my friends, those efforts have proved fruitless. That in itself proves that the theory of FATHER DIVINE and HIS followers is to walk the straight and narrow path; and so long as you do that, you can have nothing but PEACE!
"I am going to sit down by saying that my mission here today--I came to New York City from Philadelphia in an effort to see if it was not possible to get FATHER DIVINE--and mind you I had no idea whatsoever that I was going to walk into anything like this, knew nothing whatsoever about it--but I came here to see if it was possible to get FATHER DIVINE to come to my City to do some of the work that I had heard that HE had done here.
"Now you can imagine for yourselves how much more I must be impressed and what type of message I am in a position to carry back after seeing a demonstration such as this, where I was hardly able to wend my way through the corridors of this great building to see FATHER DIVINE because so many people were crowding their way in to show that they have the confidence that is due this Man, in HIM.
"I thank YOU, FATHER, for the opportunity of coming down here and expressing myself. I want to repeat that I certainly did not come here today to make any address or any type of speech whatsoever. I came on a casual visit, hoping that my visit may serve some ends to better the needs and the wants of somebody else; but it has been a pleasure for me to come down here and to listen to FATHER DIVINE and to those of you who have expressed yourselves, and it has been a less privilege, of course, for me to express myself, but still one that I am grateful for; so I am going to sit down by saying that I am very thankful and that in years to come I hope to learn more--not in years but even in weeks and months--my interest is aroused and because of that I want to learn more and I am going to learn more. So in sitting down, let me once again say, Thank YOU, FATHER!"
The New Day: July 20, 1939 A.D.F.D., Pg. 27
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