As an article had been published in The People's Voice, a weekly paper edited by Congressman Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, although the article was biased and had escaped the notice of Dr. Powell, after he had taken cognizance of same, through his democratic stand for Righteousness and Justice, he demanded a retraction, for which he is to be highly commended.
As one of the representatives was granted an interview by FATHER to get the true facts from Him verbatim, as she was very harmonious and sincere in her endeavors, FATHER granted her this timely interview, and for the enlightenment of the general public, this interview was transcribed, that one and all might get first-hand information.
Thank YOU, FATHER Dear!
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, and the following is the interview with the secretary speaking firstly as follows;)
FATHER DIVINE
Secretary: FATHER DIVINE, Miss Leighla Whipper of The People's Voice.
FATHER: What is the name?
Secretary: Miss Whipper.
Miss Whipper: Peace, FATHER DIVINE.
FATHER: Peace, Miss Whipper. And this is Mrs. DIVINE and the others are the other representatives of My staff that are with ME today.
Miss Whipper: Yes, I understand they transcribe everything YOU say.
FATHER: Yes, they do, because so many people like to pervert My Words.
Miss Whipper: It might be that a little later I could check with some of the recorders, stenographers or transcribers, because a lot of times I quote and I do like to get it accurate. I am really interested in the account of Your Marriage in The New Day and I am sure that anybody who wants to get an accurate account of it can read it through that, but there are perhaps many who can't read it through that, so I thought it would be best if I got it from YOU. But I really want to get the story and Prodigal Son to get the pictures. We just want a general idea of it with pictures along with the Marriage. That was our idea. So I will just ask YOU a few questions if it is all right. Now FATHER, how many missions do YOU have that are operating?
FATHER: I do not have a record of it. I have no record of it.
Miss Whipper: No record? But there are quite a few. YOU do have quite a number. Thousands or hundreds?
FATHER: Well, I would say, there are thousands according to information I receive from all parts of the world.
Miss Whipper: Have YOU any in Switzerland? I think, I understand YOU have a Mission there.
FATHER: Yes, quite a number, and in Australia, New Zealand and Germany.
Miss Whipper: Well, that is interesting.
FATHER; Yes, and Africa and in the South American countries.
Miss Whipper: Do YOU visit those missions or do YOU plan to visit them?
FATHER: I do not visit them Personally. Since the most of them have been established, I have not visited them in Person, but they have My communication.
Miss Whipper: I see. Now I understand, this is some thing I do not think has been stressed enough; and that is, many of Your followers have paid back bills that were not required to be paid, although I did read something in some issues where YOU called a strike.
FATHER: Yes, they have paid back millions of dollars that were outlawed bills and even so much as returned to the Home Relief of the city, state and federal government. Charities have received monies that they have given to My followers when they were in need; after they were converted to My Doctrine, they returned such monies and when they could not find the ones to whom the monies were due, they would pay to the U. S. Treasury and other worthy charities. To verify that statement, some of you secretaries can get some of the papers where I called strike for reasons better known to Myself and will be revealed. In some of those of last year, we have a record of more than two or three thousand dollars weekly where they returned stolen goods and monies where they did not have any right to pay according to the law.
Miss Whipper: And concerning war bonds, did YOU at one time advocate the absolute giving of these war bonds to the United States Government?
FATHER: I did.
Miss Whipper: I thought I understood that, but I wanted to get it straight.
FATHER: I particularly stressed the fact that I did not want to be made beneficiary, neither did I want any of our churches to be made beneficiary, and if those who were followers of Mine did not desire to make their own relatives beneficiary, they could make it out to the government or some worthy charity and they did make out the bonds P.O.D. to the United States Treasury, a good many of them did. Some did not put any beneficiary on their bonds at all, and they purchased bonds in the millions throughout this land and country.
Mrs. DIVINE: And other countries too, FATHER.
FATHER: Yes, it is true.
Mrs. DIVINE: Why, I was in Canada at the time of the war and I as well as many others bought bonds because of FATHER'S influence.
Miss Whipper: Is that so?
FATHER: A good many of them bought American bonds even though the bonds were due to be purchased in the United States. They purchased bonds elsewhere because of My Doctrine.
Miss Whipper: That is very interesting. You see, so much publicity has been given on some things and not enough on others.
FATHER: Have you the clipping from Switzerland?
Miss Whipper: No, I haven't
Secretary: I think I can get it for YOU, FATHER.
FATHER: I AM sure you saw where five thousand of My followers in Switzerland came to the notice of the international press?
Miss Whipper: The Switzerland followers? Was that in reference to these bonds?
FATHER: No. it was in reference to a man that was raised from the dead. Because they called ME and put the telephone to his ears, they claim, and he was raised when I spoke. We have a picture where they said he was preaching the doctrine of Americanism and they have a picture of the Flag; and in all countries they carry the American Flag just the same as they do here. That is a part of our doctrine, Americanism, Democracy, Christianity and Brotherhood as synonymous.
Miss Whipper: Are they synonymous or YOU are going to make them synonymous?
FATHER: I did, and I do make them synonymous in all of our connections because My Doctrine of Democracy is as much a part of My daily Sermons and Lectures as Christianity is, for they are synonymous.
(At this time a secretary returns with some back issues of The New Day and hands them to FATHER and FATHER in return hands them to Miss Whipper and says:) Of course, no doubt, you have read, but these are just a few of the back issues of The New Day before I called strike on giving.
Miss Whipper: Our office has had a fire. It might be that I don't have them. I would like to take them with me.
FATHER: You are welcome to do so. Weekly there were thousands of dollars' worth. Two or three thousand dollars weekly where they paid up back bills that were outlawed and were absolutely not required to pay and returned stolen goods and the like, expressing this of which we are endeavoring to continue to produce, Honesty, Competence and Truth!
Miss Whipper: Oh yes, I wanted to know if it is anything I will put it this way to YOU about the Marriage; why I know what YOU said here is very good. (Miss Whipper refers to FATHER'S Message in The New Day.)
FATHER: Well, just what I have said to the public press, I would say it to you privately. I say the very same thing to Mrs. DIVINE privately, because it is a fact. Mrs. DIVINE of eighteen eighty-two, before she was known as MOTHER DIVINE, we were married to produce just what you have seen the results of in your city, state and country and she did give birth to such versions as emphasized in our daily activities.
Miss Whipper: I understand that YOU married first in eighteen eighty-two and MOTHER DIVINE was reincarnated in Mrs. DIVINE now.
FATHER: Yes, that Spirit of MOTHER DIVINE is reincarnated in Mrs. DIVINE.
Miss Whipper: When did YOU find this out, FATHER?
FATHER: Well, years ago I knew that this would happen some day.
Miss Whipper: Years ago YOU knew that this would happen some day?
FATHER: Years ago I knew the Spirit of MOTHER DIVINE, when SHE ceased to function in person, would be reincarnated and I would find a Virgin in which SHE would be reincarnated.
Miss Whipper And Your Marriage remains as it was before, on a highly spiritual plane?
FATHER: Yes, it does, absolutely. We did not marry for self-indulgence, neither for sex-indulgence, neither did we marry to propagate lust and passion, races, creeds and colors, but we married to propagate the Holiness of Jesus and the Virginity of Mary, whereas to give this whole nation a New Birth of Freedom as called for by our great national statesman, Abraham Lincoln. It is wonderful!
Secretary: (Returning from the files) We didn't have the original article, FATHER, but this is an exact reprint from Zurich, Switzerland. (FATHER hands reprint of clipping to Miss Whipper.)
Miss Whipper: Oh, this is wonderful! I may have this one?
FATHER: It is marvelous to know that I had not gone there in Person.
Miss Whipper: Yes.
FATHER: But yet, by My Word being conveyed there, the daily press got record that there are scores of cities where this Truth has been established, and practically, at least, every one of them in Switzerland is supposed to be what they would deem as of the Caucasian race. Of course with ME there are no races, creeds or colors. Of course, if there would be any, I came to unite the people together.
Miss Whipper: What was that last statement?
(A secretary at this time repeats the statement to Miss Whipper.)
Miss Whipper: May I have a statement from Mrs. DIVINE on this question? How does it feel and what role are you going to play as FATHER DIVINE'S Spiritual Wife? I am waiting for you to get yourself together for that.
FATHER: SHE is free to speak if SHE desires to.
Miss Whipper: Just in general. Nothing technical.
MOTHER DIVINE
Mrs. DIVINE Well, I say this: in my opinion, my Marriage to FATHER DIVINE has not changed my relationship with Him in any way whatsoever, because to ME, HE is GOD ALMIGHTY. Each individual has their spiritual rights to Him, which is equivalent to the legal rights of matrimony. I realize the Honor that has been bestowed upon ME, and I just thank FATHER that HE will always lead ME and guide ME so that I will be a fit Sample and Example of the Virginity of Mary.
Miss Whipper: Is there something further?
Mrs. DIVINE: That's all.
Miss Whipper: FATHER, YOU know what is in my mind along this same trend of thought. Will there be another immaculate conception as I understand it in the bible?
FATHER: We do not emphasize another immaculate conception, but we do emphasize the fact that as afore mentioned, this whole nation should have a New Birth of Freedom and I have gone them one step further; by My interracial and international Marriage, I have United all nations, therefore, we mean to give all civilization a New Birth of Freedom as called for by Abraham Lincoln.
Miss Whipper: That is a wonderful answer!
FATHER: This is not only that, but as synonymous, CHRIST told Nicodemus "Ye must be born again!" I AM emphasizing the fact that those that are already born, there are plenty of people in the world; if they all have the New Birth and live the Life, we can emphasize the CHRIST; and Democracy, Brotherhood and Christianity will be put in action on a universal standard for all humanity. It is wonderful! It is so true because this is not a supposition.
I often think of MOTHER DIVINE and Myself making the sacrifice to the extent that we did, to give birth to such an unfoldment as this. Not a true follower of Mine will smoke a cigarette! That is a hard saying to those of whom may not consider those things are detrimental, in the which I do not consider they are crimes, but, I do not consider smoking and drinking intoxicating liquors are advantageous to the advancement of our civilization; therefore, from those things we abstain. My followers abstain from all human affection, young and old. As you have seen and heard, even though they may be married, they do not indulge in human affection. They abstain from it for Righteousness' sake, sacrificing all of their former hobbies for Righteousness' sake.
Miss Whipper: But FATHER, how are You going to propagate the race since so many are dying out?
FATHER: Why should they die?
Miss Whipper: Oh!
FATHER: That is why I AM emphasizing the fact where Jesus said (St. John 8:51):
If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
I implicitly, conscientiously and sincerely believe that if a man will live exactly according to the Life and the Teaching of Jesus and live as Jesus lived before His Crucifixion, from His Birth to His Crucifixion and as Mary lived before His Birth, Virtuous, Holy and Untouched as Mrs. DIVINE is today, I believe they will live and not see death! That is our belief! It is Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!
And this is the Birth that, through My first Marriage, we gave millions of souls to believe the same, plus Honesty, plus Decency and Modesty in every manner expressible. (FATHER at this point shows Miss Whipper a copy of the latest issue of The New Day and says:)
This happens to be the latest issue of The New Day right here. That is Mrs. DIVINE'S picture.
Miss Whipper: That is a charming picture, and the other too, is quite wonderful! I heard so many comments downstairs on how beautiful it was, and also the original. FATHER, I remember last May, YOU aided The People's Voice and I was wondering if now, as in the past, if YOU will support Adam Clayton Powell on his re-election?
FATHER: Well, I hope to do so. I hope to remain as loyal to the person or persons whom I deem as democratic and will stand for Democracy as much as I have.
Miss Whipper: Adam Clayton Powell comes under that heading?
FATHER: Positively! I admire his political stand. Of course, I do not believe that this was his version as published in The People's Voice. (FATHER refers to a biased article concerning Him and His Bride in The People's Voice.)
Miss Whipper: No. Here's what happened. On the deadline date we have the paper made up and this news broke, and knowing that something must be said definitely on the subject we had to print without an interview; so what I am doing now is to get coverage on all the facts in order to nullify anything that has been erroneously stated.
FATHER: Definitely we stand on our Righteous Endeavors the same as we always have. When any of you heard of ME, before the majority of you were born, it may not look like it, but I was married and through My Marriage many were given birth to Modesty, to Virtue and to Holiness, and this Marriage is on the Same Principle! We did not marry for any of the things that the average person marries for. SHE did not marry ME for My money because I do not have any! I told Her I did not have a dime as far as I AM Personally concerned. (At this statement all laugh merrily, and FATHER continues speaking as follows:) My followers have unlimited purchasing power and they do have the Source of all Supply, which is ME! I did not ask Her did SHE have a dime! It is Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!
Miss Whipper: Truly Wonderful!
FATHER: I AM quite sure She is quite well satisfied. She will be cared for, and so will Mr. Ritchings' family realize that at least She will be cared for. (FATHER hands Miss Whipper another clipping and says:) This is from the Vancouver paper. This just arrived this morning and it tells everything all of the papers have carried about ME, from the past up until the present and no doubt the prospect of the future.
Miss Whipper: Was it a more sympathetic tone than some of the papers give it?
FATHER: No. Some of it is very prejudicial. In My Version they are very prejudicial when they use segregated terms, as you know. I wonder, why is it we can't get together and crush out all of that system of our press and all of our literary world in carrying such names as they call you and Myself. When the Italians do not call themselves "Dagoes," why do the Afro-Americans call themselves so-and-so?, the word I do not like to use. Now that is something we should get together and get right on it, because it is a detriment. It is low-rating. It is distorting and perverts the minds of the people as soon as they use the word.
Miss Whipper: That is true.
FATHER: As soon as they use the word, if they spell it with a capital letter such as that it is perverting to the critical and prejudicial minds of the people.
Miss Whipper: In other words, YOU would suggest that we use more general terms?
FATHER: Yes, and if you wanted to describe or give or make an illustration, it could be handled in a more discreet way than that of the low-rating terms; not just in this article, but I mean generally, you see. I often think of one of your fellow citizens in New York who came to ME, to My Madison Avenue Residence, at least visited ME and I do not recall his name now, but he lived in White Plains and he had been in Civil Service work for twenty-five years or something of that sort and when his time had expired whereby he could be honorably discharged with a pension, others received a pension of eleven hundred dollars a year, but because of his name, or color whichever, they did not pay him anything and he had the same rating as they Just because of his color, as it may be termed!
Now such as that should not be, and the discriminatory usage of the word concerning the person should not be used as has been for the purpose of low-rating and distorting the minds of the people, the public press distorting the minds of its readers! Although people think they are intelligent and practically any of them think they are much more intelligent than I AM, but I hope to rid our vocabularies of that vulgarity!
Miss Whipper: FATHER, in many of these papers they quote Your age as being seventy or seventy-one. I want to get Your statement because I don't think that is accurate, is it?
FATHER: Well, I think you can find My letter to the Answer Man. No doubt, you have read it. (As a secretary goes to the files to get the July 13, issue of The New Day, containing FATHER'S letter to the Answer Man, FATHER continues speaking to Miss Whipper as follows:)
I did say, if it was necessary to use a word to make a distinction, to differentiate between a person, there could be some word coined for the purpose of describing the person rather than using such words or such terms as have been commonly used. Now, as I started to say, we are protesting against Bilbo and Bilboism, and your press and all real democratic people, I don't mean to term it a so-and-so press or anything of that sort, because I do not see yours as a so-and-so press, not more than I see Mine; but in any democratic paper they disapprove of anyone using such terms, such as "Dago" and "Kikes" and "n-g-r," or anything of that sort for the purpose of distorting the minds of the people and the person of whom they are speaking. We do not believe in the usage of those terms for those that are commonly known as the Caucasian race. They use such terms as have been used for the purpose of giving you displeasure towards the person or discredit the person of whom you are speaking; there are those of the South, especially of the Afro-American, darker complexioned people, will say concerning the Caucasians, "crackers" and "buckras." Now all of these vulgar terms are used for the purpose of low-ration and discrimination and not for the purpose of identification! They are prejudicial and discriminating in themselves and carry the germs of antagonism and will create strife and confusion and will even create warfare and bloodshed! Aren't you glad! I shall have it just as I have it here all over this wide extended plane eventually! It is growing in the South over and above all oppositions!
Miss Whipper: Now just one more question: where will I find the letter to the Answer Man regarding Your age and the fact also that YOU are not a cult leader?
(Secretary turns to the number of the page regarding the "Answer Man" FATHER continues:) FATHER: Well, I do not deem Myself as a cult leader. I do not class Myself as such. That word has been used for the purpose of low ration, although we know the interpretation. We know the word "cult" means those who worship the personification of the person of anyone, giving homage to the person. They do give homage to ME and they do worship My Presence and Person! Therefore, the word "cult"could not be so much criticized as the word they do use commonly concerning those of a dark complexion.
Miss Whipper: (Reading FATHER'S letter to the Answer Man concerning His age, where FATHER refers him to St. John 8:58, which says: "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was I AM." Miss Whipper replies): I see.
FATHER: The Same Spirit is speaking today! Of course, through My Condescension to talk on the material plane, at times people may ask ME, "How old are YOU?" I say, "How old do you think I AM?" And they look at ME and say, " I think YOU are about thirty-five." I say, "Well, write that down," because it is no use to go on to try to argue with them and say, "Why before Abraham was I AM." They would not believe it, even those of whom are spiritual minded, unless to them it is revealed. Therefore, to them it would be just an evasive answer. But to come down to facts and figures, if I speak to any person, the same as dealing in business transactions; I have dealt with men and when it would be required to call for some age or something of that sort, I say, well . . .
Miss Whipper: YOU just let them approximate? But YOU are really ageless?
FATHER: Positively, emphatically and definitely I say that! Sure!
Miss Whipper: GOD has no age! FATHER DIVINE, there is only one question now I want to ask YOU again, but I want to verify it one more time, and that is this: Are YOU GOD, or are YOU GOD just expressed on this earth? I mean, what do YOU say to the idea? Is it that YOU are GOD or is it that YOU are an interpretation of GOD on this earth in this age?
FATHER: Well, there is ONE GOD! And it is commonly known by all of the religions that GOD is Omni and yet Ever Present and by the Christian religion it is commonly considered that CHRIST came through forty-two different generations; but the Word was made flesh. You cannot separate them! There is where you behold His Glory, to recognize GOD, not in part, but in His entirety.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
That is the Christian doctrine.
"And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory as that of the Only Begotten of the FATHER, full of Grace and of Truth. And of all of His fullness have all we received, Grace for Grace."
GOD is made Flesh, a Person. The Personification of GOD is a Living Reality. GOD made Himself real, tangible and Practical. And as many as received Him, to them gave HE power to become the Sons of GOD. So that is the Mystery.
Now the question may be, are YOU, in other words, "Is Jesus the CHRIST the GOD of the earth?" From a scientific point of view, CHRIST was born under some planet, the same as all persons are. Who can say that the same GOD in Spirit and in Power had not formed Himself a Body in some other planet before this planet was created and after many years duration, sent His Spirit down in the Name of the Holy Ghost, according to the Christian religionists, to overshadow Mary, that the same Spirit which was the Word might be made Flesh to dwell among us on the earth plane, on this planet? It is the same GOD! Only One GOD, in My Version, in and on all planets where Life exists! The GOD of all Creation and the GOD of all planetary systems and all systems such as the Solar System, and in this one and in other Systems, GOD is GOD now, henceforth and forever! Now according to My Version, there is only One GOD, filling all space and is absent from none.
GOD appeared to Abraham as young men, as three young men. It was GOD according to My Version, but in the name of three angels. Then HE went down to Sodom and Gomorrah to Lot's house, and when they arrived, there were only two of them. One of the appearances as being termed GOD, one of the angels of GOD, had disappeared. But in My Version, that was GOD that came to them, and not a part of GOD, but GOD Himself came to them in the likeness of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the likeness of human people, and HE told Lot to get out of the city.
And if I AM anything, I Myself, as well as millions of My followers, believe the same about ME as a Person. GOD is Personified! No longer a supposition! GOD has been a supposition in the minds of millions, just an imagination until now, but I came as the Personification as well as the Materialization of that Word that was made Flesh, and it was made Flesh. Now, you will find the Bride, the Lamb's Wife! The Materialization and the Personification of the Bride is a reality. It is not something just imaginary. We are dramatizing it in the actuated words of expression. This is the Bride, the Lamb's Wife. (FATHER refers to Mrs. DIVINE'S picture on the cover of The New Day of August 10th, 1946 A.D.F.D. and continues speaking as follows:) And millions behold such Glory as that of the only Begotten of the FATHER in Her, for it is written that
"Man should leave father and mother and be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."
Nevertheless, see the point? This is a great Mystery! I speak concerning CHRIST and the Church. It was just CHRIST and the church anyway. Man took it up and tried to do it, but they were dramatizing it in mortality while GOD dramatizes it in immortality and true Spirituality.
So they behold in Mrs. DIVINE, such Glory, such Honor, full of Grace and of Truth, such as no man should have expected on the earth plane as though it was the Only Begotten of ME, the FATHER, full of Grace and of Truth! But as all of these, My following and others, behold it, it is the reiteration or repetition of history as it was in Jesus,
"and we beheld His Glory as that of the only begotten of the FATHER, full of Grace and of Truth! And of all of His Fullness have all we received, Grace for Grace!"
Now it is equivalently the same for each of the believers the universe over! Everyone has the right to develop, observe and produce the same Glory! And we beheld His Glory as that of the Only Begotten of the FATHER, full of Grace and of Truth, and eventually all will be the same! They all are the same! You see the Mystery?
Miss Whipper: Yes, Sir.
FATHER: The thing you vividly visualize, you tend to materialize. Retracing My thoughts back to MOTHER DIVINE. Myself, and others who lived according to My Teaching, they beheld such Virtue in US, such Honesty in US, such a Democracy expressed in US until they visioned it vividly and they reproduced it, and of all of His Fullness have all we received, Grace for Grace. Now it is the privilege of everyone else to be even as Mrs. DIVINE, but it is not the privilege for everyone else to legally marry a man or legally marry a woman, because everyone else in mortal consciousness would be in self-indulgence. They would be committing spiritual suicide! I thank you.
Now since you are writing to get it definite, of course, I know you are religious and connected with the Christian church; but a good many people do not stop to consider (FATHER at this time reads out of the bible as follows):
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations!"
I AM smiting Bilbo and all Bilboism now!
"And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
It further tells you:
"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the Supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on the them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." Rev. 19:15-21
We find that a part of this Revelation has been fulfilled and much of it is yet to be fulfilled.
Miss Whipper: FATHER, I appreciate YOU giving me this amount of time and I hope that it will clarify that which I think has been written since the news broke in papers all over the world. So I am going home now and get these facts together and I am sure that with the pictures that Prodigal Son is going to send later, we can portray a true picture of what it really is.
FATHER: I see. Well, I hope so; because it really means a whole lot to those who may be interested and may be unbiased, non bigoted and non prejudiced and desire to know the Truth concerning all things that concern them, because this great issue concerns them! This is an international issue, to bring the nations of the earth in a closer relationship! Our Marriage was for that! It is an international Marriage! It is an interracial Marriage and we will bring all races and all nations in close relationship by this Marriage if I permit!
(FATHER reads from the bible again as follows:)
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His Wife hath made herself ready." Rev. 19:7
His Wife hath made herself ready!
"An to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Rev. 19:8
The one I have emphasized, SHE (Mrs. DIVINE) has been the reincarnator of. This is not a material raiment of which I AM now speaking. SHE is arrayed in white linen, the Righteousness of the saints! Before I drew Her to ME by My Spirit intuitively, the Righteousness of Her, SHE was overshadowed by Mother's Spirit seeking a body as I sent it to find a body in whom SHE, the Spirit or the Mind of Mother, would be well pleased!
Mother often said she desired that I would have a Rosebud, and she desired ME to give her a Rosebud's body. I would discourage her in that assertion because I did not want her to consciously feel as if though I desired to get rid of her. But she continued to tell others; we have many witnesses that she said she felt that she could not follow ME and serve ME as she desired to in that body. She desired ME to give her a body as would please ME, a Rosebud's body. And she was happy to know that I did have Rosebuds or young people with ME that could carry out My Work and Mission, such as My stenographers and others that could carry out My Work and Mission accordingly, such things as she was not talented to do.
So, Mrs. DIVINE was Actually overshadowed with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost that was in the body called Mother after her passing, and I gave it a body! SHE was well pleased with it! And Mrs. DIVINE was well pleased with it and SHE could not stay away from ME! I did not ask Her to come to ME. SHE came of Her own volunteer volition! But while SHE was trying to reach us with others, one of the officials, immigration officials said, if his daughter would try to come to a so-and-so organization such as Mine, he would break her leg and let her lay up in the hospital before she could do that!
This is an open statement for the press, or it can be left out, it is immaterial to ME. It is authentic! They know he said it!
Miss Whipper: Yes
FATHER: And they tried in every way to keep them from having any communication with ME whatsoever. Of course, this one was inspired. (FATHER refers to Mrs. DIVINE and continues speaking as follows:) And I did say openly, I will break that line of demarcation if I have to marry Her legally, and so I did!
There are many others who have been held back from this country because of prejudice, but I will find a way to break that line of demarcation and bring an abolition to the prejudices of the nations that set up high tariff laws and immigration laws to keep GOD'S people severed! I thank you.
(With this last statement, this constructive interview terminated.)
**************
Philadelphia 46, Pa.
764-772 Broad Street
August 15, 1944
Mr. Bruce Chapman
145 West 41st Street
New York, 18, N. Y.
My dear Mr. Chapman:
I received yours of the 11th instant, but being over flooded with letters, calls and callers from all parts of the world, it was apparently a matter of impossibility to respond before this date. But in response to the personal questions put forth in your letter, "Where was I born?" "I came to America that I might be called an American, but see St. John 5:58" ("Before Abraham was, I AM.")
In response to your question, "Am I married?"
"Yes, but not for self-indulgence or sex indulgence, neither for physical propagation; Therefore, I do not have any natural children through physical propagation, for My Marriage is without self-indulgence and without physical cohabitation.
"This Marriage is to propagate Virtue, the Virginity of Mary and the Holiness of Jesus, and to give this whole nation a new political and religious birth of freedom under GOD for the establishment of the Kingdom of GOD on earth among men."
May I hope that this answer will give your questioner the necessary information so that you and all who are concerned might be even as I AM, for this leaves ME Well, Healthy, Joyful, Peaceful, Lively, Loving, Successful, Prosperous and Happy in Spirit, Body and Mind and even in every atom, fibre and cell of My Bodily Form.
Respectfully and Sincere, I AM
REV. M. J. DIVINE
(Better known as FATHER DIVINE)
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