The U. S. Flag That Flew over the White House,
Washington, D. C. Displayed at The House of the Lord
The following statement was issued by FATHER DIVINE at the request of the Jersey Journal newspaper in Union, New Jersey, and also the Associated Press, when they sought FATHER Divine's Assistance, by telephone communication, in solving the killing of a policeman, as reported in the following article taken from the Philadelphia Inquirer, of Saturday Morning, February 13, 1954 which reads as follows:
Police Sgt. Killed Chasing Three Bandits
Union, New Jersey, February 12, 1954 (AP)— A police sergeant was shot and killed while chasing three bandits who staged a daring $3000-$4000 holdup at a dairy near here today.
About an hour after the slaying, State Police stopped four men in Keyport but Union County Prosecutor H Russell Morse later said they were not the killers of Sgt. Clinton E. Bond, 30.
(The following is the description given by Mr. Andy Stasiuk of the Jersey Journal to one of FATHER DIVINE'S Secretaries over the telephone:)
Witnesses said that these three bandits were about the same age – between 25 and 30. They were all well dressed – light skinned. One wore a black wool cap and jacket with white stitching. A second wore a light gray tweed topcoat and the third a dark gray coat. The get-away car was believed to have been a 1949 Mercury Sedan - gray color.
(The following is the reply FATHER DIVINE firstly made, in answer to the telephone call:}
If we have any proof that such a crime has been committed, we would be glad to cooperate with them in any way possible, and especially in the way of making a public announcement as a statement for record, if necessary.
(As this is what the press desired FATHER to do, FATHER DIVINE took time out from HIS never-ending Work to issue the following public statement:)
Peace Everyone: To those of the Members, Followers and Friends I would like to say, We, the Peace Mission Movement, and all of our Churches, go on record as in the Defense of Humanity and as those who will endeavor to cooperate with the Police Department and all Civic and Social Service Departments of our Government, to bring an end to vice and crime and sin and debauchery of every kind; mainly such as the hideous crimes that have been conducted by the criminals recently, as holdup men, as cutthroats and murderers, burglars and underminers!
If any of you do see and know of anyone having committed a crime, or suspected of having committed a crime, you need to report them to the authorities: especially if you know they are guilty of committing a crime!
It has been brought to MY Attention, there are some fugitives from justice, having murdered a policeman and gotten away. Everyone should be on the lookout for such a person or such persons, and stand in the defense of this nation and this people for righteousness' sake by reporting any such, or anyone of whom may appear to be the one who has committed the crime.
Report then to the authorities and let them handle them according to equity and justice! I thank you.
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