FATHER DIVINE in Rockland Palace, N. Y.
There is no faith found in the earth today throughout the civilized and Christian world like unto the faith that is exemplified by the Followers of FATHER DIVINE. Because of this great faith in FATHER DIVINE, these Disciples of CHRIST know the value of prayer. However, their prayers are not the wailing, groaning and beseeching type that are heard in the enlightened churches of today: they are expressions of Praise, they are unuttered and unexpressed at times, but through the Teaching of FATHER DIVINE in relaxation of the conscious mentality, they reach the Throne of GOD, and bring results.
At the morning Banquet yesterday, a testimony of Praise went out to FATHER, and the individual thanked FATHER in behalf of all of the children in Jersey, to attend their Righteous Government Forum to be held in the evening of the same day. FATHER gave no open expression of his going to the Forum, but somehow or other the Angels felt the transmission of the LORD'S Spirit, and they were all quite convinced that they could return to their home in Newark, and praise the LORD under their own vine and fig tree until His arrival. They knew their prayer was answered, for GOD always hears His Sons' prayer, and answers in the wisest way.
Personally, it had been quite some time since FATHER had been over to the Jersey Extensions, but the love of the children for their Precious Loving FATHER never waxes cold, and when FATHER arrived, permitting quite a number of the Heavenly Family to join HIM, there was a great reunion in Heaven.
There were many politicians present, including Lawyer Becker, Mr. Jos. Nardiello, and our own Dr. Jos. Broadman from the city of New York was present. All of these gentlemen talked timely, and gave their opinion concerning the much talked-about Senator Ellender, who has not elevated himself in the minds of the American public, but has caused himself to be rated with the most inferior and lowest type of person on earth.
FATHER, the Great Counselor, the Great Physician, and the Great Emancipator of humanity, gave this glowing Message, which should cause Mr. Ellender and others of his kind to quake with fear and hide their faces in shame if they still possess a human soul. The great multitude was held in complete interest, and shouts of joy and gladness rang from the vast throng as FATHER delivered this powerful, cleansing message. The time was absolutely too short for the continuance of this political and educational occasion; so the speeches continued down at the Banquet Table in the Dining Hall, where FATHER served a delightfully prepared Banquet and delivered another message of sterling worth.
CHRIST, our Savior, FATHER DIVINE, we humbly thank THEE.
FATHER speaks as follows:
PEACE, EVERYONE! ('Peace, FATHER Dear! enthusiastically greeted the Followers and assembly).
Here we all are again. How marvelous it is to have millions of souls of Honesty, of Competence, of Truth, and of Integrity to dwell in you. As I speak, I stand I stress the reality of the unity of Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose, by firstly harmonizing with the rights of each and all of us, and seeking the benefit of others and not the benefit of ourselves individually.
At the start I would like to say, we are pleased to know, as it has been so it is, and as it is so it will be. Those of MY Followers who are converted from vice and from crime and from sin of every kind, and those who were not committers of crime, altogether, shall have their franchise; but I appeal to all of MY Believers, Followers, Co-workers and Friends, to be persistent in your ambition in standing to your integrity and exercising your franchise for Righteousness, Truth and Justice for which we all stand. For this cause I came, and for this purpose I stand. I shall continue to propound the significance and the privilege which you have, to exercise your franchise.
It is a privilege, and you should do it. Therefore, you should rejoice in the LORD always, and again I say rejoice: let your moderation be made known to the politicians and all others; the LORD is at hand. It is a privilege to realize again, while you let them know the LORD is at hand, you will prove it to them in the actuated words of your expression, for 'actions speak louder than words.' You shall speak in your actions more distinctly, and you shall be more distinctly heard than what you have been heard heretofore.
I would just like to say a word in reference to the senator from Louisiana. There have been many questions asked concerning the senator, and he attempted to answer many questions. He has received letters from all parts of this country and not only this country but other countries, no doubt, in reference to ME; in reference to his alleged talk on ME and My Spiritual, professional and social and political activities. But with all of his talks and all of the other Klans' talks, of which evidence shows, no doubt, he is one, I say, evidence shows, no doubt, he is one, [A Ku Klux Klan member] with all their talks, I shall continue to stand and withstand, and shall spread this TRUTH from shore to shore, and from land to land.
I shall not be discouraged until I shall have it all over this country, as I have it in New York City. It might amuse My Followers, hearers and friends to verify what the last speaker said concerning the Police Department in New York City. I have not sought it, neither have I sought it for My secretary; but whatsoever that means, here it is without My consideration. (FATHER opened his coat and there was seen this police captain's pin, which was conferred upon Him, without His Personal consideration). This is without My efforts. It was voluntarily placed on ME. I did not go for it , I sought it not.
This is just a little thought to let you see and know. 'Righteousness will exalt any people, but sin is a reproach to any nation.' I have not sought the Captain of the Police Department degree. I did not take a civil service course or anything of that kind. I will say once again, as you travel through the Promised Land up towards the Catskills, you will see inscribed an inscription on the rocks up there, and also on one of the barns at 'The Divine Farm,' Righteousness will exalt any people, but sin is a reproach to any nation,' or words to that effect.
I AM saying that to say this: 'GOD in the midst of you is mighty to save,' and as the spirit of supremacy is brought to fruition in the hearts and the lives of this people, the spirit of supremacy will be reckoned and will be considered by all of the nations. Aren't you glad! This is not from a personal point of view, for as said the Spirit by the spirit of prophecy,
'Man looks on the outward appearance, but GOD looks on the heart.'
GOD in the midst of you is mighty to save and will lift you above adverse and
undesirable conditions. That is why the senator is stirred concerning MY Work
and My Mission; for he knows within himself, I shall give all nations Equality.
He did not speak so much in the senate openly in opposition to the Catholics
nor of those who are commonly known as 'Jews.' He did not openly speak against
them so much as he did apparently against those who he thought were of ME; but
GOD knows the secrets of the heart, and GOD knows the pretense of the mind. When
he read this [Righteous Government] Platform, where I took a stand; especially
against the persecution of the Jews in Germany and in all countries, and the
persecution and the mistreatment of all minorities, then, he knows through this
and by this cooperation, RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH AND JUSTICE will be nationally
established, and we will have a Righteous Government; yes, we will have [in Congress]
those whom he would not desire to have as his associates. That is what it is
all about.
We shall have a Righteous Government. We have it now, but we shall legalize this Righteousness which we have produced in ourselves. We shall bring it through legalization or else we shall envelop legalization and bring legalization into spiritualization and into subjection to RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH AND JUSTICE, and have the Law of the Spirit of Life and the Constitution to control the earth.
Oh, it is a privilege to know that GOD in the midst of you is mighty to save. Through His Condescension, through seeming trials and tribulations, through all oppositions, there is the way you will find the expression of success and prosperity and the extreme reverse to those conditions that are presenting themselves in opposition that arises, you may know definitely, there is something coming forth into expression undesirable to that which is rising in opposition. Therefore, prejudice, as exemplified in the majority, or a good many of the Southern people naturally they have arisen in opposition, because they can see the spirit of victory coming forth into expression, and GOD as a Victorious Conqueror, having all dominion through the ballot and by the Spirit, and by the ballot and through the people, for the people, that the government of this country might not perish from the earth.
Oh, it is a privilege to stand in the Presence of GOD. It is a privilege to live in the recognition of His Majesty, Mercy and Compassion and bring your bodies into subjection to this which I AM teaching, which lifts each and every individual and all of the nations, languages, tongues and peoples. It will lift you from every sense of dishonesty.
While sitting I thought for consideration, while the doctor was speaking, I thought of the ten planks in those which are commonly known as 'the Jewish, the Catholic, and the Protestant religions.' The ten planks of their platform, which are the Ten Commandments. These are the ten planks in the platform of the Jewish religion, as it may be termed; of the Catholic religion, as it may be termed; and of the Protestant religion, and all of their respective connections; for they are founded from the Bible and upon the Ten Commandments. By that, religiously I came as a Fulfiller of their platform, of the platform of each and all of the different religions; that which is termed the Jewish religion, the Catholic religion and the Protestant religion; for they all have the identical platform, from a religious point of view, upon which to stand.
The different planks of the different religions, the ten planks in the platform of all of the different religions under Judaism, Protestantism and Catholicism, all of them have the identical platform. The Ten Commandments and those ten planks on which the government of our present civilization has been founded, those ten planks the government of our present civilization has been founded upon those ten planks. Now who is the Fulfiller of such a document? (The great audience shouted 'YOU, LORD!') I AM speaking about the platform of all religions under Judaism. That is what I AM talking about. Now Who is the Fulfiller? I will draft, if they continue, a bill from every plank in the Ten Commandments, for My Righteous Government Platform.
I still have many amendments to add to My Righteous Government Platform, politically. Then I will draft bills from the Platform upon which we stand religiously. Aren't you glad? I shall cause every nation, language, tongue and people, to see I AM the Author and the Finisher and the Fulfiller of the Scriptures; therefore the Ten Commandments, they are being fulfilled by these, My Followers, from the first to the tenth; but where is the person or persons who are actually fulfilling the Ten Commandments, the platform of their respective religions? If they are not conscious of it, that is the platform of the Jewish religion; it is the platform of the Protestant religion; it is the Platform of the Catholic religion; and it is the foundation of the Constitution under which we are living politically. Aren't you glad!
Then I say, Senator Ellender should stop and consider when he has arisen in opposition to the foundation of civilization and in opposition to the Constitution under which he is living and under which his oath was taken, you can see he is destroying the foundation upon which he stands. The Constitution shall not be a failure, not by him; but to him it will be a failure, as far as he is concerned. As I said some time ago, not one of My Followers will seek justice by violence; not a one of them would seek justice by the way of resentment, nor by the act of violence, if they are My real Followers. But those who are not My Followers, as one of the speakers said a little while ago, if he continues to endorse lynching and encourage it, as he has been doing, there are those who are not My Followers, will attempt to take the law in their own hands, and they may lynch him.
He, and all others should be glad because I have My Followers under control. I cannot control those who are not under My influence so easily, but those who are under My influence, they will not do those things, for they know within themselves I will fight their battles; but those who are not under My influence, when they see distinctly, he is trying to rob them legally and politically out of their bread and butter, they will attempt to do what the gentleman said a little while ago, and they will come pretty near doing it, too. So he should rejoice that I have, as he said I said I have, thirty million. I have not the record Personally, but as many as I have under My influence willingly and voluntarily, being brought into subjection to My Spirit and Mind, he should rejoice because of what I AM doing; for I can and will control them and they will seek Justice by the way of Righteousness instead of by the way of violence.
As I said some time ago, as with a nation, so with an individual, and as with an individual, so with a nation. Each and every American citizen should be the fulfiller of the spirit and the meanings of the Constitution, and should bring it to fruition in him and in themselves, that the Righteousness of GOD might be established on earth, from a Constitutional point of view, in this country among you, and when the spirit of the Constitution and its amendments are fulfilled in you, when they shall have been brought to fruition in you as individuals, you will be representing the United States of America, as Personally now I AM representing the city of New York.
When a policeman carries the badge of the city hall, he is representing the city government, is he not? ('Yes, FATHER!' endorsed the assembly). So the Spirit of GOD'S Presence among you will cause you to be self-respecting, law-making and law-abiding citizens and become to be the Fulfillers of the spirit and the meanings of the Constitution individually as well as nationally. When this is fulfilled in you as self-respecting and law-abiding citizens, you will carry in yourself the law of the Constitution, and you will endeavor to, and you will live and do according to the Constitution. Laws, rules and regulations that are drafted and brought about in opposition to the Constitution, you will resent them, and you will take a stand in opposition to such unconstitutional laws, rules and regulations that are in opposition to the Constitution, and you will make every effort to legally have those laws repealed.
For this cause I stress the significance of each and every individual producing the spirit and the meaning of the Constitution within him, and bring such qualities of such Righteousness, as much as is Evangelical, to fruition, that as much of the Constitution of Righteousness, of Truth, and of Justice that there is in the Constitution that you as individuals might be the Fulfillers of such a Constitution individually as well as collectively and nationally. This is a point for consideration, from a political point of view.
We will also bring your mind to the consideration of the mystery concerning the Declaration of Independence. The country as a nation declared her independence. All of her citizens should produce and bring to fruition the spirit and the meanings of the Declaration of Independence. When this is brought to fruition in each and every American citizen, all of them will be even as My Followers are self-respecting, self-supporting, law-making and law-abiding citizens. You cannot bring to the mind's eye of this people, the consideration of your honesty and of your independence unless you produce it individually and declare your independence actually by actually refusing to take charity, by actually refusing to live on the Reliefs, and on the bread lines. You are not representing a true American citizen, with the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, so long as you are going around begging and soliciting and seeking charity from the Welfares, the state Welfares, the city Welfares and others; for such an expression is nearer to the expression of 'progging' than it is to the expression of the spirit of independence.
I need not say more: I believe I have said enough to stir up your pure minds. But yet with all I have said, and with all I have done, as I have declared, I re-declare again, I have not done a thing, not so much as a percent of a percent of a percent of a fraction of a percent of a grain of what I will do universally and nationally, an in the farthest parts of the South, as well as among you. I hope someone will tell Mr. Ellender I said it.
Another point for consideration: We are seeking our First Bill of Rights, and we shall demand them to be enacted in all of our courts of law. We shall have our First Bill of Rights enacted, not only here in Jersey and New York City and State, but we shall have it in every state in the union. That is, if there remains a union, for if we do not have our First Bill of Rights and our Equal Rights enacted and put into practice and actually manifested, we shall cancellate, by erasing 'E Pluribus Unum' from the documents of our great country.
Ask Mr Ellender, what does it mean when it says 'E Pluribus Unum?' What does it mean when it says, 'The United States of America'? United together means union, and there are those, such as he, who have attempted to disfranchise the American citizens as much American as he is, and even in the Congressional Record, if you read that through, you will find where they said 'certain people from Africa should be sent back to Africa.' There are those whom such as he and others may call Africans, who are more American than he is, from a national point of view, from a personal point of view, and from a fleshly point of view. Some are more real Americans than he is; those whom he talks so much about at times, and those whom he may try to condemn, may be more American than he is himself, for they may be more of the original American Indians than he is. They say one hundred percent American and they say Protestants: those who must be non-Catholic, not Jews, as he terms them to be; but one hundred percent American. The American Indian would be the one hundred percent American, but there are those whom he considers to be Africans are more American by nature naturally, than he is.
Take these thoughts to consideration. But in the great Universal Mind Substance and in the light of this Advanced Spiritual Civilization, My Followers arise and get away from such superstition, such foolishness and such mortal versions. Therefore, they are recognizing themselves universally as the children of GOD and not as the Indian race or nationality, neither as the African nor as American especially, but through My Condescension, I came to America to Evangelize Americanism, and to change Americanism to true Evangelism. And when this shall have been established as My Spirit overwhelms the world and overwhelms all of you, My Followers, and brings you into subjection, it shall go into the farthest corners of the earth in the world of civilization and the world that is commonly called non-civilized they all shall recognize GOD'S Actual Presence and enjoy His Presence as well as you: for the Spirit of true Evangelism, when it is conveyed and transmitted universally, it shall go forth evangelizing and shall continue to evangelize all of the civilized and non-civilized world and bring them into the recognition of GOD'S Actual Presence, when this light of Advanced Spiritual Civilization transcends all human intelligence.
'From whence cometh such wisdom a letter He has not learned?
That is what they said concerning Jesus, I could have said 'Him,' but yet He
confounded each and all of them. That is the mystery. The same Spirit is speaking
today, but in all of His Glory just as He said,
'For the LORD HIMSELF shall come in all of His Glory.'
He said it, although He may have said it through sarcasm; but he was verifying
the 'revelationic' prediction of the Spirit of GOD'S Own Servant. Aren't you
glad?
Now you can see the Scripture is fulfilled. GOD in His Love and Mercy, and Tender Compassion has truly come to bring to the minds of men, the great significance of His Presence among them, His Work and His Mission for the redemption of all mankind.
Now I appeal to My hearers, co-workers and friends, even those who are not with ME as it may be termed religiously I AM sure you are with ME economically. I AM sure you are with ME politically. I AM sure you are with ME socially. I AM sure you are with ME intellectually, for all of these expressions are for the advancement of your civilization and you can plainly see it distinctly by your daily experience.
I appeal to you, those who have not been registering and voting in this state, to do so. Everyone who is eligible for registering and voting, claim your rights and press your claims, and go to the polls and register and be ready for voting when the time comes. Now I mean it: I want you to do it. For I have an issue, as the senator said, 'I will tell the Congressionals what to do.' I will tell them to give everybody, each and every American citizen his equal rights, according to the First Bill of Rights. I will tell them to draft bills to measure out to each and every citizen the same requirements that are made for one, let it and them be made for all who are concerned.
I did not say, all the physicians that were called on to attend a patient, should guarantee the cure; but I did say, those who were obliged to have physicians through the compulsory law in states and in unions, the physicians or state itself should guarantee the cure of such individuals whom they are treating, if they are forced or are obliged to have a physician. But if you call on a physician, the physician should do his best; but he is not obliged by My Bill of Rights to guarantee the cure because you called on him. But if you are forced to have a physician by the law, by the Compulsory Medical Aid Act, there should be a law as a rebuttal to such a law, to force the guarantee of cure of such individuals. If not, the state or city or officials or physicians should be responsible for the outcome of such a person.
I have physicians right here with ME, and I tell My Followers to call on the physicians when they need them and pay them when they call on them. Do not try to get something for nothing. If your faith cannot nor does not reach your condition, then you need a physician. It may be that you have gotten into a rut some place where you cannot get out immediately, according to your mortal or material mind, unless there is some material remedy or method used to convince you to believe more distinctly that you will be delivered and healed of all of your afflictions. Then you may call for one.
Again I wish to say, retracing My Thoughts back to just what I was about to say a law that is not Just and does not work two ways, or on both sides, that law is not worth the snap of My finger: and I do not mean My Mental and Spiritual finger, but I mean My physical, material finger. I would like to say to our executives and Congressional representatives of this state, there is a law, so I have been informed, in this state, that demands every house worker domestic worker, to have a physical examination. If such a law is just and right, because of the lack of a perfect sanitary condition in our country, how about those who are the employers as well as the employees? This may cause a rebuttal to your registration and to your voting, but we do not care anything about it. This we must have. If the employees must have a physical examination, the employers must also have a physical examination. If the pupils, students and scholars of the schools must have physical examinations, the teachers also must have them. We shall have a Righteous Government, and we shall not stop until we do have it.
These may be hard sayings, but we shall have it. There is a common phrase quite often used in America, 'It is as fair for the goose as it is for the gander.' I say 'It is as fair for the employer as it is for the employee.' Then the matter must be amended; in other words, there must be another bill drawn that will compete with this law, to compete with the sanitary conditions of the employees. The employers must be cleansed from all impurities and impure blood themselves.
Because a person has money, it does not say that person cannot have a disease. There are plenty of employees who are employed by different employers and the employers are diseased with all sorts of contagious diseases. Now let the employers have physical examinations, and we will have a sanitary condition worth representing in this advanced civilization. I say we shall have a Righteous Government, for if we do not get Righteousness and get Justice at the hands of legality, we shall have it by the hands of My Spirit, the Law of the Spirit of Life that is within you. As I said some time ago, a law that will not stand for Righteousness to be enacted, if we do not wish to abide by such a law, as many as are lifted from such conditions, as said the Scriptures, yea the Gospel,
'When you are persecuted in one city, flee ye also into another.'
If I take ten thousand out of this city, the city authorities will feel it. If
I take fifty thousand out of New York City, the state will feel it. If I take
ten thousand out of the state of Connecticut, the state of Connecticut will feel
it. We shall have a Righteous Government, and if they desire our support as American
citizens, they must make laws, rules and regulations that will give each and
every citizen his First Bill of Rights.
Take these thoughts to consideration, and I will not detain you longer. I hope our visiting friends and our congressmen and senators will get busy and get out bills to justify everybody. I thank you.
Now just before you go, I further wish to say, if you will do your duty, I will not have to take the law in My Own Hands. I will cooperate with you and I will help you to do just what you should do. I thank you.
Now just before we make our seeming departure I know I have taken up quite a lot of time, although speaking scattering. I do not believe you will regret what I have said. When you shall have digested it, every word, and shall have allowed it to remain in your minds for a season, I AM quite sure you will not regret it. Now I would like to say, I have been requested or invited to serve the Banquet. I will have to ask those in charge to pardon ME for MY delay, and for My actions in belating the Banquet; nevertheless, you all know how it is. This is a political meeting. As politics and the politicians are always late, they have late meetings, you know, and they are not disturbed in their meeting, so we happen to have our meeting late tonight, because it is political. (Laughter ensued.) So I will ask My friends, co-workers and hearers to forgive ME. Those who are especially invited guests as speakers may go down and participate in the Banquet with us, and those who did not get a chance to speak, we will not sing nor dance so much until we give you a chance to speak down there. I thank you.
(The New Day, February 24, 1938)
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