Philadelphia 46 PA,
September 21st, 1949 A.D.F.D.
August 15, 1949
FATHER DIVINE
New York, New York
Dear FATHER DIVINE:
With your supreme genius for organization work, You can probably make $500,000.00 in the next few weeks — possibly a million dollars, by your members taking orders for Hamilton Snowkist Christmas Trees which are marketed only through churches.
Usual prices in your city are probably 4 or 5 times our prices to You.
You set your own retail prices. You will make by far the most money if you put your prices far below usual prices. Nearly everyone will then order a tree.
The present method of marketing is a shameful farce to Christians. The marketing seems to be almost exclusively in the hands of people racially opposed to Christianity — men who do not believe in the Prince of Peace.
In your home town they perhaps market 2,000,000 trees each year at profits that reach fatalistic proportions. This old plan is all wrong, and no longer necessary. These profits belong to the Christian Churches; with Your help that's where they will go.
You have the organization. We have the trees and the plan to cooperate with You. Probably 2500 churches in the West and Middle West will be taking orders this Fall. They will keep us very busy. But if you let us know in plenty of time that You wish to share in this, we can supply You also.
We believe You will be decidedly interested, but will You please write us at once and let us know for sure.
Yours very truly,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. A. Barner By (Bette Barner)
The Circle Mission Church, Home and Training School.
Philadelphia 46 PA,
September 21st, 1949 A.D.F.D.
Mrs, Bette Barner
P.O. Box 449
Centralia, Washington
MY Dear Mrs Barner:—
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 15th ultimo and to advise you that I do not carry on any commercial business whatsoever. I AM a spiritual Advisor among the people.
However, our churches would not be interested in securing the Christmas trees for resale among the follower and others, for in the first place, we carry the spirit of Christmas in our hearts everyday; for we live Christianity and the synonymous doctrines of Democracy and Brotherhood; hence every day is Christmas with us.
With best wishes, this leaves ME, as I AM ever Well, Healthy, Joyful, Peaceful, Lively, Loving, Successful, prosperous and Happy in Spirit , Body and Mind and in every organ, muscle, sinew, joint, limb, vein and bone and even in every atom, fiber and cell of MY Bodily Form.
Respectfully and sincere, I AM
Rev. M. J. DIVINE, Ms. D., D. D.
(Better known as FATHER DIVINE)
Rev. MJD.r
Rev. M. J. DIVINE, Ms. D. D.
October 17, 1949
764-772 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia 46, Penn.
My dear FATHER DIVINE:
Your truly fine and most interesting letter of September 21st is before me and it has occurred to me, as I re-read it, that perhaps we had not made ourselves clear to YOU in our original letter. We sincerely understand that Your church, just as other Churches, does not seek commercial gains in any way, and we fervently hope that we did not give You the impression that we felt otherwise in regard to Your Church.
Being deeply religious ourselves and realizing the desperate need for religion in this unstable world that is ours today, is the inspiration behind this unusual campaign. All who have been consulted agree to the great merit of this plan, carried on through the Churches and for their benefit.
We have contacted over 3500 Churches and Church Societies in the large Cities in the United States and our plan, as fully explained in the enclosed manuel, is being met with much enthusiasm.
We feel now, FATHER DIVINE, that we should have sent our initial mailing, the Manuel, etc., to You , as in all other cases on our mailing list. However , having a genuine admiration for FATHER DIVINE and having read and heard of the truly wonderful guidance You are giving Your tremendous following and knowing that besides being an outstanding leader You are a renowned financier — we felt that with all due respect You should receive a special letter. Thus our first letter was sent.
Now reading Your answer, we know that without a doubt, we had not made our plan, its purpose or the unusual possibilities, clear to You.
We note your wonderful mention that You and Your followers carry the Spirit of Christmas in Your hearts every day and are not certain whether or not You celebrate Christmas the same way as other religions — if You do.
We fully appreciate that You and Your Churches may not be interested in this unique campaign; however, we would appreciate it immensely if You would take the few minutes required to familiarize Yourself with all aspects of this drive and we feel certain if You do, You will realize the real opportunity we are offering Your Churches as we have offered it to so many other denominations.
Please note our references — we think they are excellent. All who have been consulted have agreed to the great merit of this plan.
We would be most pleased to hear that Your Churches can and will benefit in this campaign and should You desire to enroll all or part of Your vast organization for this seasons drive — please advise us of the number of members in each Church who will be taking orders and we will be glad to furnish manuals, receipt forms, reduced price list sheets, etc., to supply each member.
Please let us know, should Your Churches desire to take part, the most convenient method of handling this data — we will be glad to send all data direct to You, FATHER DIVINE, and You distribute it as You see fit — or we will mail packets to Your individual Churches and the society officer may hand same to each member.
It is pardonable to express my unqualified admiration for Your unique letter to us — truly an evidence of a master mind; and if I do say it, a corroboration of Your widespread fame as an intellectual genius. We have read many thousands letters but never anything showing such master originality and unparalleled command of the English language.
Yours most sincerely,
Bill and Bette Barner
By Bette Barner.
BB:b
P. S. That You and Your members may see the fine quality and unusual beauty of these trees, we will be most happy to send a sample tree, express prepaid, to any church enrolling. Thank You.
B. B.
764-772 Broad Street
Philadelphia 46 Pa.
November 2nd, 1949 A.D.F.D.
Mrs Bette Barner
P. O. Box 449
Centralia, Washington
My dear Mrs Barner:—
I AM writing to acknowledge receipt of you communication of the 17th ultimo and the enclosures concerning the Christmas trees.
It is commonly known that the Churches under the FATHER DIVINE Peace Mission Movement, which is according to the Exact Life and Teaching of the Christ, emphasize, advocate and reproduce the unadulterated principles and significance of the Birth of Christ.
We are not concerned, and we do not believe in gift giving and gift taking, for, as the Law through Moses has clearly defined it:
"Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous." (Deut. 16:19)
Christmas to the general masses is a time of giving and receiving gifts, but as I have explained, MY true followers convey Christ's Mass every day, for this is GOD'S Administration. This is the Spiritual Era of Justice and Truth, and I AM materializing the same in the midst of the nations.
Of course, this is somewhat aside from the matter of Christmas trees, but I speak principally of our stand and of MY Work and Mission among the people, as I AM causing them to reproduce and inculcate the very Nature and Characteristics of the Christ, even as I AM the Personification of the Christ in this Fatherhood Dispensation.
Now our Churches, Hotels, Homes, Training Schools and connections in general celebrate Christmas and we enjoy the decorated Christmas trees. MY specific Work and Mission among the people is Spiritual. I AM a Spiritual Advisor among men and do not personally negotiate in any commercial endeavor. Personally I do not accept contributions for MY Spiritual service to humanity. I have never accepted a fee, never received a donation or love-offering, or taken up a collection in any of our Churches or public assemblies, for I AM a free gift to the world, gratis to mankind.
By this you would see we would not be interested in securing the trees for resale; nevertheless, I wish you every success, as this leaves ME Well, Healthy, Joyful, Peaceful, Lively, Loving, Successful, Prosperous and Happy in Spirit, Body and Mind and in every organ, muscle, sinew, joint, limb. vein and bone and even in every Atom, fibre and cell of MY Bodily Form.
Respectively and Sincere. I AM
Rev. M. J. DIVINE, Ms. D., D. D.
(Better known as FATHER DIVINE)
Rev. MJD.r
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