FATHER DIVINE at Rockland Palace, New York City
Another history-making day was passed in the Sayville home; for in this sacred environment our REDEEMER and SAVIOUR, FATHER DIVINE, seemed especially inspired, and HE delivered a beautiful Message to those seated with HIM at the Banquet Table, at the extension tables and standing around.
Many important points were covered thoroughly by FATHER in this Message, from the apparently small things to the very large; and to make HIS meaning clear, in several instances HE explained in parables.
WE THANK THEE, OUR GREAT MASTER TEACHER!
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, and FATHER'S Message follows the song HE sang before rising to speak.)
SONG
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, waiting on you all,
Waiting on you all, waiting on you all.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, waiting on you all,
GOD'S been waiting on you all.
"As a seed that is sown in the earth,
Waiting on you all, waiting on you all
Until it germinated within itself,
I have been waiting on you all.
Oh, I stand, stand, stand, stand;
I've been standing for you all, standing for you all.
Stand, stand, stand, stand, standing for you all.
I've been standing for you all."
(FATHER Speaks as follows:)
PEACE EVERYONE! That little composition I brought out for the consideration of those who recognize the ACTUAL PRESENCE of GOD; but in that Message you heard read, I thought how marvelous it is to hear the TRUTH explicit, legible and plain, and what a privilege we have to hear it read distinctly and plain so we can understand.
I often think of the privilege you all have, especially those of you who are unfortunate enough to be fortunate enough to be with ME Personally; with the best of comfort and convenience from every angle expressible, with the best of everything necessary for your comfort and for your convenience and for your advances, for your protection, for your help and for your aid, for your information, for your instruction and for every other desirable expression, GOD through HIS condescension, in LOVE and MERCY came and brought these limitless blessings to you as the children of men.
I thought of how marvelous it is even to hear the Message read, after the Message has been given, explicitly and inspirationally and instructively, that you might get information for the advancement of yourself and for the benefit of others, information in this light of civilization. GOD has through HIS condescension given you the privilege and an opportunity to hear HIS OMNISCIENCE put forth into expression so vividly and so explicitly until you can see it and get it distinctly if you will but accept of it.
These thoughts I thought to say as the Message was being read, for I often say in our public meetings: those who can read the Message distinctly, legibly and plain and put the emphasis on the phrases, on the divers phrases and the words I stress for the benefit of the people; they are the ones who should read the Message so that the public can get it distinctly.
MY Words are SPIRIT and they are LIFE,, but if ,you receive MY Words merely as a matter of course, without any consideration, your minds are closed — you are as hard-shell turtles that shut themselves up in their shells; and when it rains they do not feel the effect of it from the inside. If they do, if they are on the outside, if they are near water, they will jump in the water so they will not get wet in the rain.
But oh, how glorious it is for you who desire to learn more and more of GOD, whose minds are open and are willing to receive the Message and accept of the thing that is the most advancing and the most instructive for you and for your advances! It is for this cause, wheresoever I AM, I stress the significance of reading MY Message. If you must read it, read it legibly, distinctly and plain, with the proper pronunciation of MY Word, so that you and others might understand; for if you do not understand, others cannot understand; but if you understand, when you read the Message, your thoughts will convey thoughts to others that they in turn might catch it.
How glorious it is to live in such a recognition and to be blessed, I AM talking about — to have the privilege to have the best of everything necessary for your advances. We are blessed with the best of food, the best of comfort and the best of convenience. Those who are with ME and live according to MY Teaching, you have all of the best that GOD HIMSELF can afford. How glorious it is to observe it! Then you should praise GOD and give thanks for it. Can you not see the mystery?
But I wish to say in answer to one of the speakers concerning praising GOD, as I said there, you should praise GOD and give thanks for it. Praising GOD is not merely a multitude of words. Praise ME in deeds and in actions and in truth that is well worth considering. Praise ME in the actuated words of expression: then you are telling ME you love ME~ for there is where humanity loves GOD — when they serve HIM.
If you serve GOD partially, you love HIM partially — I mean, if you just serve GOD in part, you love HIM only in part — but when you serve GOD against your personal feelings in every manner of expression wholeheartedly, fully consecrated to HIS Service; then and only then can you prove to ME or tell ME you love HIM in reality. For the angels of the Kingdom and the children of GOD universally and even the children of men, to love GOD, they must serve HIM! Can you not see the mystery?
When one writer put it in the language of men by an explicit interpretation, it was borne record of by Jesus and verified by your SAVIOR:
"The first and the great Commandment is, hear, 0 Israel, our GOD is one GOD. Thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all of your heart, with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength. This is the first and the great Commandment, and the second is like unto it: thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
But the interpretation of LOVE in that illustration is distinctly understood as it was conveyed by interpretation given by your LORD and your SAVIOR — LOVE means SERVE!
"Thou shalt serve the LORD your GOD with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind and with all of your strength."
Even some put it forth into expression in the illustration:
"Thou shalt serve the LOBD your GOD."
You SERVE GOD because you LOVE HIM, and the LOVE of GOD in evidence in you is an expression of faithful and devout service. Truly might have Jesus taught humanity under and in Christianity in all Christendom, to pray:
"Let Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
"Let Your will be done," an expression of the LOVE of GOD and the LOVE for GOD when GOD'S will is done among you all. Can you not see the mystery?
And when this is actually established, it is a living reality — LOVE is real SERVICE in evidence put forth into expression, as GOD is the CREATOR and the MULTIPLIER and the INCREASER and the GIVER of all blessings. I heard you say, according to the Doxology of the Christian religion:
"Praise GOD from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, Praise FATHER,, SON and HOLY GHOST."
It could have said, love GOD. Why praise GOD or why love GOD in the actuated words of expression? It was because all creatures here below should recognize and praise GOD, for all blessings flow from GOD and all blessings to the children of men, is the LOVE of GOD for them and from HIM to them. Can you not see the mystery?
GOD'S LOVE to the children of men is the blessings bestowed upon them. To verify this according to the Scripture, yea, according to the Gospel Epistle of the Apostle, John declared :
"Behold, what LOVE the FATHER hath bestowed upon us that we might be called the Sons of GOD; and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is."
GOD'S LOVE to the children of men is the blessing that HE has bestowed upon them as blessings many; so many you cannot count them — but if you choose to observe it in an illustration as an expression of a blessing, you can say together with the one who said,
"Praise GOD from Whom all blessings flow."
and with the one who said,
"Behold, what LOVE the FATHER hath bestowed upon us,"
you could say it is a true saying that GOD'S LOVE for the children of men is HIS blessing that HE has bestowed upon them.
"Behold what LOVE the FATHER hath bestowed upon us . . ."
How do you know GOD loves you? By the blessings bestowed upon you; for GOD'S LOVE in evidence is presented in a blessing and in the blessings HE bestows upon you. Can you not see the mystery? And your love for GOD in evidence, when it is presented, it is an expression of SERVICE you give to GOD, and let HIS will be done in you all as it is in heaven. Then it is an expression of the LOVE you have for HIM. Can you not see the mystery?
Then I say, it is well worth considering; but it is not so much of just getting up to testify and to say that you love GOD in words. Deeds and actions will tell! If you love GOD, you will serve HIM ! The more you serve HIM and the more you consecrate your life to HIM, the more in evidence your love for HIM is seen. Can you not see the mystery?
The impracticality of the children of men and the slothfulness of them, will show to the world at large not only today but tomorrow and for the future, you do not love HIM or they do not love HIM when they are impractical, unprofitable and good for nothing. But when you love GOD, you will use your energy, your ambition and your determination, your zeal, your courage and all you have in the act to serve! Then you can prove to the world you love your GOD. That is what I AM talking about!
Now GOD is required to do something to show HIS LOVE for you; but unless you get in the place in consciousness where GOD can do something for you, GOD'S LOVE may not be shown to you; but if you will get to the place in consciousness and stay at that place in consciousness where GOD'S LOVE can be shown to you; and shown for you, GOD'S LOVE will come forth into expression as limitless blessings bestowed upon you, as John declared, that you might be called the Sons of GOD. And he, one of the Apostles, puts it on another occasion,
You are heirs and joint heirs with the CHRIST."
This is an expression of GOD'S LOVE to you, by causing you to be heirs and joint heirs with HIS MAJESTY, with HIS MERCY, with HIS LOVE and with HIS COMPASSION. That is what I AM speaking of!
Then I say, it is a privilege to live in such a recognition and to build upon such a foundation as this one; where the LOVE of GOD the FATHER has been bestowed upon you in the expression of limitless blessings, so many you cannot count them. Then it is an expression of GOD'S LOVE that has caused you to be heirs and joint heirs together with CHRIST your SAVIOR, because you received HIM.
"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of GOD, even to them that believed on His Name."
Then there are blessings bestowed upon them! GOD'S LOVE has been extended that HE might consider you in HIS lineage — FAMILY, I AM speaking of — in HIS FAMILY, as one adopted into the ROYAL FAMILY and born in HIS lineage — a little better — as an heir and a joint heir with your SAVIOR; and of all of HIS fullness receive grace for grace, by concentration and by harmonization and with your LORD and your SAVIOR'S LOVE, MERCY and tender COMPASSION. Can you not see the mystery?
It is for this cause I say that these who are true and faithful are bountifully blessed, and the fulfilment of the Scripture as was predicted by the minor prophet saying:
"Try Me, says the LORD, and see if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out such a blessing, it will not be room to receive it."
I could have said, "LOVE."
"I will pour you out such love, you will not have room to receive the love,"
but in the language of the Scripture, before Jesus, in the illustration I said:
". .. pour you out such a blessing that it will not be room to receive it."
I could have said, "LOVE." I did not give you there and then in that particular quotation, the mystery of the interpretation of the blessings. The b1essing of GOD, when it is poured out upon you all, it is the LOVE of GOD from GOD to the children of men; and when it returns from them to HIM, HIS blessings will be vice~versalated — you will reverse the action of the expression of LOVE in the name of blessings to GOD. As it was given to you as blessings, it will be returned to HIM as LOVE in the act of SERICE! That is the mystery. That is the way to tell ME you love ME — by SERVING and OBEYING! That is the mystery.
The more consecrated, the more the SERVICE; and the more the service, the more the LOVE you have for GOD your CREATOR, with or without a BODY. That is the mystery. But I could have said:
"Try Me and see if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out such love, it will not be room to receive it."
But to the expression of the language of the children of men, such things as they are speaking, I said:
"I will pour you out such a blessing that you will not have room to receive it."
This quotation as predicted by the minor prophet, was in the last book of the old Bible, but coming over in the New Testament where by inspiration the Apostle caught the glimpse of the mystery and said:
"Behold, what LOVE the FATHER hath bestowed upon us that we might be called the Sons of GOD,"
you see, it was because the blessings that the minor prophet had predicted had been poured out upon them, that they might be called the Sons of GOD; but when it was poured out upon them, John said:
"Behold, what manner of love . . .
It was such a blessing they could not receive it! Therefore it was an evidence to him and to them as LOVE instead of blessing. Can you not see the mystery? But it was the identical, the very same that was spoken of a blessing that you will not have room to receive it. Can you not see the mystery?
The TRUTH of MY Work is going forth conquering and to conquer; is going forth by leaps and by bounds; and it is overcoming every opposition, it is breaking down every idol, it is casting out every foe ; it is causing the children of men and of GOD to know GOD is a living reality and a real blessing made real, tangible and practical; and their LOVE for HIM in turn is obedience in the act of SERVING HIM.
That is why millions and millions today are willing to serve ME Personally — because of this BOUNDLESS LOVE that has been bestowed upon them in the expression of BLESSINGS and in return to HIM from Whom it was given in the act of SERVICE and SERVITUDE to the CREATOR. Therefore millions and millions are willing and ready to serve ME Personally! And the blessings of GOD are being bestowed upon the children of men, as being termed the LOVE, as John declared that the FATHER hath bestowed upon us that we might be called the Sons of GOD'.
One writer said as a recorder of the Message of Jesus:
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Those who are true and faithful and are living according to MY Teaching, they are coming into an inheritance, a rightful inheritance of the earth and earthly things that pertain to this life and to the present life's existence. Blessings are bestowed upon you, and so many blessings you cannot count them; therefore those who are true and faithful are coming into possession of them and are enjoying them here and now on the earth plane.
That is why our Work is growing by leaps and bounds. Can you not see the mystery? We cannot have room to receive all blessings, for they are INFINITE. By nature GOD'S LOVE has no bounds! It has no barrier! It has no limitation, but it goes forth UNIVERSALLY and boundlessly in the name of a blessing and in the name of blessings such as the LOVE was in the illustration concerning the mystery by John, that the FATHER hath bestowed upon you, that you might be called the Sons of GOD.
Now just think of it! Just think of it! Truly might have I long since declared:
"Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever."
With or without a BODY, I go on throughout all eternity, and I AM just as operative and just as expressive when I AM not functioning Personally; for MY SPIRIT is INFINITE by nature and MY MIND is from everlasting to everlasting! Aren't you glad?
Then I say, build upon this foundation. You will not have an occasion to fret nor worry; for,
"Through tribulations deep (I heard one say) the way to glory is."
Through going through tribulations and trials, adverse and undesirable conditions, you may know you are going on the way to the glorious VICTORY, the victory that I have always given. Aren't you glad?
I say this is not a supposition. This is the conscious recognition and the realization of millions; tangibilated, materialized and personified, that all mankind might realize, GOD is no longer something to be imagined, but something to be realized! The realization of your fondest imagination, I AM bringing it and them into your recognition and into the recognition of millions, that you are realizing that which you once merely surmised and what millions are now merely surmising by the religious superstitious versions of men — they have not seen the TRUTH, neither know it, but going in the way of all the dead; thinking they can see their GOD on the "other side of Jordan."
The "other side of Jordan" is over in Palestine. It is just on the other side of a river, the same as the Hudson River. It is a material place; but they have spoken parably concerning the mystery, and they have brought forth compositions and songs and praise in giving thanks to the SAVIOR. They say "on the other side of Jordan," and thousands and thousands of people, even some who call themselves intelligent, think they will cross the Jordan River; and it is merely a natural river the same as the Hudson River. But because the Works of GOD were going on on one side at one time, and some crossed the Jordan and went over into the Land of Cannaan the same as you cross the Hudson River and go over into the Promised Land now, that does not say that going to those places geographically is the standard of PERFECTION for your SALVATION; but it is a parable in the actuated words of expression.
But it is so much better to know the TRUTH concerning the mystery and get away from all superstition and bring your fondest imagination, which is a superstitious idea concerning the mystery, into the recognition and the realization of your fondest imagination. Your very fondest imagination can be realized, but it must be brought from the suppositional version into the recognition and the realization of your conscious mentality.
An architect can draw something in his mind and then put it out in blueprint and describe it by a description as given as an abstract of that of which he is considering; but that is merely an abstract — in their words, a blueprint of it — but to realize it, there must be the reality somewhere. The reality of that which has been blueprinted and drawn by your architect and made real in the consciousness of the mentality of men by tangibilization — in other words, by it being tangibilated, materialized and by being actually built or brought out into outer expression — when this is done, it is no longer merely an expression of architecturism, but it is an expression of TRUTH! It is made real to you.
Your beautiful building in which you are now living, is more than merely an abstract, a description that had been given. The description is okay to direct you and to give you information theoretically concerning the mystery, but the building is the thing that you are getting when you are buying the property. You are not merely getting the abstract or the description of such a piece of property, for it would profit you nothing unless you could get the reality!
The abstract, the description is not sufficient. Can you not see the mystery? But to get the reality of it, it is no longer merely an abstract and a description as given mentally and spiritually as someone can describe it.
Even a surveyor may give you the description of it, but unless you get the property, the description will profit you nothing. You may get a theoretical picture or description of anything you wish, but when you get the reality of it and come into possession of that which you have had the description of, if it is desirable, you can rejoice and be happy because you have the reality; no longer merely the description; and when you get the realness of that of which you had the description of, you can draw other descriptions concerning it and send out different descriptions of it, or copies of the description of it. But the reality of it is what you have and what you can rejoice in.
You have been getting the description, which is the blueprint, the abstract of such as this of which we represent; but to get the reality of it is the realness and the recognition — in other words, it gives the recognition and the realization of that of which you did have the description. Can you not see the mystery?
When men are looking for a criminal, one who has committed a crime, they send the description of the criminal all over the country, yea, in other countries. You may get the description of him because the description is given out publicly to all public-spirited citizens; and if they offer you fifty thousand dollars or one hundred thousand dollars or five hundred thousand dollars, or even a, million dollars to catch the criminal; if you go and present merely the description of him, because you heard the description given out publicly, the description will profit you nothing.
But when you get the criminal, that is where you will get the profit, you see. You will get the reality when you get the person that you have had the description of. You had the description — why, of course, everybody had the description — you had to get the description. At times you go in the post office and you see the description, and you may even read the disposition and the characteristics of the criminal, his actions and his attitude towards the children of men with whom he comes in contact; but unless you get the man, you haven't anything!
The description is but the shadow; but the substance, you have missed it. You do not get the reality unless you get the reality instead of seeking merely the shadow.
Build upon this foundation and get the reality of the description of that of which I have and have explained to you. The description of this LIFE has been given through the Bible through the ages, by the prophets, the seers, the sages and the saints and others; but when you get the reality of it, then you can recognize that which you once merely surmised. Aren't you glad?
Now we shall make a reality among us, those who know the TRUTH concerning the mystery. We are not merely going by the description, but you have the substance instead of the shadow. You have the REALITY! You have it established once and forever. You can rejoice in it, because it is a reality to you! Can you not see the mystery?
Then I say, build upon this foundation and keep in consciousness the reality instead of the shadow. Keep in consideration that which you have, since observing the mystery distinctly, the recognition of it. You recognize it! You do not only surmise it, but you recognize it. As a recognition you have brought into your realization so vividly, that of which you had vividly visualized; and it has been actually materialized and now you realize that which you once recognized and that which you before then, before that time merely surmised. Aren't you glad?
From step to step and from unfoldment to unfoldment it goes on, until the PERFECT DAY of expression is put forth into evidence, and all can reckon and consider the reality of that of which you visioned. Aren't you glad?
Now consider, it is not necessary just to talk or feel that you must get up and be seen and heard, to say what you are and what you are doing; but let your deeds and actions be put forth into expression; for
"Actions speak louder than words."
In, the actuated words of expression I AM telling you more distinctly than I could tell you Personally. You know, that is the mystery.
Now build upon this foundation and "recognize the ACTUAL PRESENCE of your SAVIOR now henceforth and forever; and lo, I will be with you, and I AM that which you desire to be, and that of which you have declared to he ME.
I often think of how the oppositions arose out here in Sayville, and how those who called themselves MY friends, a good many of them, they went back into oblivion from whence they came. They were no longer seen or heard as being coworkers or as being friends and as visitors and such like; but what said the Scripture concerning this mystery?
"He came treading the winepress all alone (without the people), for of the people there were none to help.'
So the same Spirit is in evidence today and in our experience. We are experiencing and have experienced it, even though it was a prediction, but we are the fulfillers of that prediction —
". .. of the people there were none to help."
All people were as sheep — they went astray!
What said the prediction concerning this mystery?
"He came treading the winepress all alone."
Then I should rejoice in it and so should you, because of the fulfilment of the Scripture. You will know more distinctly when the Scripture is fulfilled with you and among you, GOD is with you and is the FULFILLER! Therefore you have naught to worry for.
Upon this foundation if you will stand, and at all times recognize the ACTUAL PRESENCE of GOD and realize as the song says:
"By the power of His Hand, GOD brought me out of Egypt,
By the power of His Hand, GOD brought me out of Egypt,
He led me through the river and 'round the walls of Jericho —
By the power of His Hand, GOD brought me out of Egypt."
Just think of the thousands and thousands who were in opposition to this FUNDAMENTAL and who looked upon it critically, maliciously and antagonistically and sought in every way to destroy it! They have been cut off the stage of action, and the Spirit of MY Presence is going on just as effectively and an hundredfold more in expression. Can you not see the mystery? Until it has gone out into all fields of endeavor — politically, socially, legally, nationally and internationally. The very Spirit of MY Presence shall be reckoned in every field of endeavor, even as it is reckoned among you.
Just think of the UNITING of these twenty one Republics of the Americas, and causing them to be UNITED in ONE, until there will be but one democracy under ONE flag and under ONE speech! Is not that a stroke well worth considering? Even MY most severe critics have not found grounds for criticism in this proposal for they know it is a national defense as proposed, that transcends the barriers and the limitations of men. They know it goes into INFINITUDE, the end you cannot vision.
When this western hemisphere shall have been UNIFIED together effectively, all of the divers republics and be the UNITED REPUBLICS OF AMERICA even as we have the United States of AMERICA we will have a national and an international defense, both against outside political invasions and also against outside and inside contagions of all sorts of unclean and contagious germs of disease; and our sanitation will be an expression of PERFECTION from shore to shore and from land to land, in the furthest parts of the South American countries as I have it under MY Personal jurisdiction.
Then I say it is something that goes forth into expression. It is not for ME nor for you alone as persons, but the Work goes forth into INFINITUDE, the end you cannot vision. When you get into the Work, you are lost in it until you do not even have a desire for self, because you know the Work is more beautiful and more enjoyable when you lose your personal identity. Can you not see the mystery?
Truly might have the Apostle brought forth an inspirationic Epistle-ic prediction concerning this mystery and said:
"Ye are dead and your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD."
When you are dead and dead indeed unto sin but alive unto GOD through Jesus Christ your LORD, your identity will be hid once and forever; for you will be in the INFINITE and adopted into the lineage of GOD, the ROYAL FAMILY — not only adopted, but be born into it, until you will be one in that number of this INFINITE lineage, where you will have no personal identity.
When you get away from your personal and individual identities, you will get away from your personal and individual and lineage's infirmities; and you will get away from all of their transgressions and iniquities. They will not be able to find you! If they find you, they will not be able to identify you from any other person or persons; for you will not be of a race, a creed, neither a color; neither will you be represented in any special lineage; therefore they cannot identify you, for you are changed completely characteristically and dispositionally, and you are hid in your SAVIOR where you cannot be identified — no never!
Oh, how glorious it is to observe the mystery! This is it of which I have been stressing, where I have told you over and over again:
"GOD is your FATHER and you never had another."
If you recognize such a recognition and establish yourself in such a conviction, and be truly converted into it in reality, GOD will be your FATHER and you never had another. You will lose your personal and individual and national and lineage's identity, and be hid once and forever in the INFINITE.
When this is established effectively, all of the different republics in these Americas will be UNIFIED together nationally diplomatically and racially; but when we cross the borders of these republics and these countries, countries of America, we will go into the eastern hemisphere and all of the different republics and countries of the eastern hemisphere will also be UNIFIED together.
Even recently since I made MY proposal, I have heard them say and stress over the radio, that there has been much thought and much talk about having the UNITED STATES OF EUROPE! This will be a reality some day, but it may not be immediately. The immediate essential is for this part of the world, the western hemisphere, to UNIFY together in and under ONE DEMOCRACY such as this one of ours, and allow the CHRIST within each and every person a chance to develop and to be brought to fruition, that they might have a REDEEMER and SAVIOR in this western hemisphere once and forever, even as you all have HIM here and now with you! I thank you.