FATHER DIVINE on the balcony of the Circle Mission Church
(The following is one of FATHER'S original inspirational compositions sung just before HE arose to speak:)
Everything works better and better,
Everything works for the best,
Oh, things don't work just like they used to;
Everything works for the good of man.
If you have been tossed and driven,
And you have nowhere to roam,
All you have to do is be true and obedient;
Everything works far the good of man.
(FATHER speaks as follows:)
PEACE, EVERYONE! Here we all are again! E Pluribus Unum I stand, universalizing the Brotherhood of man and causing the recognition and the realization of GOD'S Presence to be established in the hearts and lives of men. At this particular instance I have arisen to say and verify the inspirational composition as declared in the song:
"Everything works better and better,
Everything works for the best.
Things don't work just like they used to;
Everything works for the good of man."
It is a privilege to realize, as this message was given by MY Spirit as a composition, and original, but you can see now definitely, everything works for the good of man. The comfort, and the convenience of mankind; not for that which is deemed the soul alone, but for the physical bodies of the children of men as the last speaker said, "Christ" — he was speaking of Christ in the Sonship Degree nineteen hundred years ago —"fed the multitude ." And the same Christ today is doing the same. Not only doing it locally, but universally. All mankind shall eventually realize,
"Everything works for the good of man."
for their comfort and for their convenience, for their Life and for their Liberty, for their Peace and for their Pleasure and for Success and for all Prosperity.
For this cause I brought into MY outer expression the Personification of these Attributes as I have declared MYSELF to be, so that mankind generally might vision and reproduce the same in themselves and live the same Life with Victory over death, the "other place" and the grave!
It is a privilege to live in such a recognition. It is a privilege to realize, everything works better and better and everything works for the best. But if you, MY fellow citizens, hearers and friends and even those who may not be deemed as our fellow citizens, even though you may be deemed as aliens and pilgrims and strangers—I say, if you will harmonize with the Truth, sympathize with the Truth and go forth in the land to reproduce what I have shown to you, you will be a blessing in the land and truly, everything will work better and better, everything will work for the good of man; because the very blessings that I AM demonstrating, producing and reproducing will be carried by you. MY fellow citizens, hearers, friends, followers and whomsoever you may be; even as aforesaid, if you do not call yourselves fellow citizens, as may be deemed fellow citizens of some special nationality or land or country, I will say, MY fellow citizens of humanity universally, as GOD is Universal by Nature, Impersonal and Ever Present also Omnipotently and Omnisciently Omnipresent!
By this, you can see and know definitely, wheresoever man is found, GOD is present with them. And as one declared,
"If I take the wings of the morning ..."
he spoke of these days and times when the robot bomb and robot planes, remote control planes, would come into display by science and by invention and would transcend the speed of sound, seven hundred or more miles an hour, and go on up until two thousand miles an hour — if you take one of those wings that are controlled by remote and fly to the uttermost parts of the earth, "Thou art there," he declared, and I came to verify what he said. Aren't you glad!("Yes, Lord, so glad!" came the eager response.)
GOD in the midst of thee will prove to the world conclusively once and forever, GOD IS Actually Omnipresent as well as Ever Present with those with whom HE is Personally dwelling. Aren't you glad !("So glad, GOD !" again came the unanimous response.)
Therefore, I say:
"Everything works better and better,
Everything works for the best,
Things don't work just as they used to;
Everything works for the good of man."
In comfort and convenience, not only Unity and Tranquility, in Love, Kindness and the demonstration of Hospitality; but all of these Blessings I have brought and I AM demonstrating as a Sample and as an Example for all humanity. When you copy after it, things will be better wheresoever you go and none will lack in GOD'S Abundance, for GOD will be right there with you.
I was just thinking of how marvelous it is today, not only here but elsewhere; you can go in the Holy Communion Halls that were originally set apart for those who were fully consecrated to GOD; those of whom were self-denied and made themselves a living sacrifice of all of their energy, mentality and mind and attention, love and devotion directly to GOD, the great Creator, and for this cause the Holy Communion Halls were created. They have been established throughout the land.
Nevertheless, as GOD is Universal by Nature and by Characteristics, GOD expresses HIMSELF democratically and evangelically from every angle expressible. MY doors have been thrown open not only to those who are called followers, or members of the churches alone, but to and for the benefit of all mankind. Since our system of worship is not a system of worship and the serving of the Love Feasts and Communion just merely as a symbol, but we serve our Communion as a living reality that has been made real, tangible and practical for the sustenance of our bodies as well as for that of the spirit and mind, as being termed the soul.
For this cause we do rejoice and we do present to the world the best we have so that you might enjoy it universally and recognize GOD'S Omni and yet GOD'S Ever Presence. Aren't you glad! ("So glad, ALMIGHTY GOD !" came the eager reply.) So then, things work better and better.
Therefore, to the world at large, those who are not eligible by conversion and by living evangelically, to come in to partake of the Holy Communion as a ritual according to the Gospel, you may come in and dine according to a human being and serve food for the sustenance of your bodies as this is for the sustenance of your bodies as well as that of the soul. So then,
"Everything works better and better.
Everything works for the best.
Things don't work just as they used to;
Everything works for the good of man."
I was just speaking about how marvelous the food tastes in the places; some of the places especially; how palatable they cook the food and cook it so that an infant can eat it and will not give them the indigestion. At The Palace Mission Church, Palace Mission Church and Home Incorporated, in Pine Brook, the beautiful delicious food we have there, cooked so delicious and seasoned to the taste of millions out of a limited number where none could rightfully say the food is not cooked decently and completely and made suitable for anyone to digest. As it is there and as it is here at times, but especially where some of the places are, such as The Palace Mission Church and Home Incorporated of Jersey, how the food as a rule has been cooked so delicious, palatable, so tasty and good, truly, it is not strange that thousands go up there every week and since the place is opened to the public to enjoy this beautiful food.
"Everything works better and better.
Everything works for the best."
As it is there and as it has been at Howard Street, the Peace Center Church and Home Incorporated, of Jersey, so shall it be all over this wide extended plane. All of the food in all of the connections under MY Jurisdiction shall be cooked decently and delicious and good so that it can be digested, so that the old and the young, those who may have been rich and always had the best of foodstuff and the best of cooks, can enjoy such as we have, for we have the best of cooks. But we shall have them just that way all over.
The public will be able to come and dine and taste and see the Lord is good. The best of food and the best of cooked food — so delicious. so tasty and it causes you to be youthful. Someone spoke of the youth of your Humble Servant. Why should you grow old? Live the Life and keep the faith! Deny yourself and live evangelically! Stay away from self-indulgence and sex-indulgence and GOD will be in you, renewing you with all of your energy and would-be wasted energy that you would dissipate in riotous living. Aren't you glad! ("Yes, ALMIGHTY GOD!" exclaimed the multitude.)
GOD in the midst of you is Mighty to save — to make things better and better from every angle expressible, to make things more comfortable and more convenient, to bring you out from the slums and eliminate the slum conditions in your respective vicinities. GOD in the midst of you is blessing the people. Aren't you glad! ("So glad, GOD!" echoed the assembly.) Everything works better and better!
(At this point FATHER holds up The New Day with the picture.)
Look on the outside pages of The New Day — how those of whom once were in lacks and wants and limitations can have such apartment houses as these, with all comfort and with all convenience and every good and desirable blessing, for everything works better and better, and everything works for the best; things don't work just like they ~used to, everything works for the good of man.
So then I say, we mean to do better, because I said it. Where those have not come up to the mark of your high calling according to MY request and wishes, you will cook the food better. You will be better teachers, be better preachers. You will be better leaders. You will be better dishwashers. You will be better from every angle expressible because GOD is calling for the best. And eventually all the world will be colandered out. I mean sorted out! I mean sieved out! I mean colandered out, and I mean you will not be able to stay in the colander. Aren't you glad !("So glad, so glad !" came the happy response.) Nothing but that which is the best! Therefore, to you, MY fellow citizens and especially MY followers, those who claim ME, produce the best and do the best, for the time is at hand, everything must work for the good of man and not just for a selfish purpose. The best of cooks and the best of food and the best of everything. The best of comfort and the best of convenience and the best of guests, and respectable guests. Aren't you glad !("So glad, Lord !" again came the happy shout.)
Everybody must hear ME! Guests, followers, coworkers, cooperators and friends all must be the same and recognize the presence of your GOD and love and respect one and all from the greatest to the least, or from the least to the greatest. That is the only hope of your salvation, I AM telling you! Aren't you glad !("Yes, ALMIGHTY GOD!" came the eager response.)
Guests or friends or visitors, coworkers or inmates or anybody else, if you are of ME, you will not get in the bed with your shoes on and with your clothes on and wrap up in the spreads and such like, when we try to keep places nice and decent and comfortable and pleasant for you. And if anyone mentions anything of it to you, you will not get malicious and antagonistic because they speak in the defense of Righteousness. Just because you have freedom, freedom does not mean that you should abuse your freedom, abuse your privilege for GOD is independent without you and anything you think you have or anything you think you have had!"The earth is the LORD'S and the fullness thereof and they that dwell therein are mine, says the Lord. The cattle on a thousand hills are mine, says the LOR,D. If I was an-hungered, I would not tell you, I would slay and eat."
You have never heard ME ask anybody for a penny. You have never heard ME ask anybody to come and be a stenographer for ME. You have never heard ME ask anybody to come and serve ME in any way. They are all MINE, says the LORD. All of the cattle on a thousand hills are MINE. The earth and the fullness thereof are MINE, and the fullness of the earth is MINE, says the LORD. Therefore, you can be blessed eternally if you recognize the Fundamental and live thus accordingly, for I can and will be with you and everything will work better and better continually and none will lack in GOD'S Abundance, for all shall be happy and free.
I have said over and over again, if the butcher brings any meat or anything of that sort, and if it is tainted and not suitable to eat, return it there and then. I said to the scuttlers, if anything comes in from the butcher shop after the butcher here may have received it, and it is not suitable to cook, you should not cook it. And if it is cooked and the waiters go to serve it and they see it is not good to eat and you would not want to give it to ME Personally, do not give it to anyone else. Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you. That is what I AM talking about.
Be the same by all others as you are supposed to be and as you would pretentiously be by and to ME. Be the same and serve the same. All of these many tables we serve here and elsewhere, I want the same service at the Tables when you do not think I will be there as when you think I will be there, here or there or wheresoever we serve. Be the same! "FATHER, I don't see how that can be, because we don't get enough out of it to do that." How was it nineteen hundred years ago even in the Sonship Degree; And Jesus said in reference to ME.
"My Father is greater than I"
Jesus had the little lad's luncheon and blessed it and multiplied it until all were fed — five thousand men besides the wives and children and enough to be taken up, as the gentleman said down there, there will be plenty of fragments to be taken up if you do what I bid you do.
Then I say, it is something to consider! Live in this recognition and if you know Who I AM, you will take the same steps that those boys did, the disciples did, not in picking up the fragments alone, but in getting down, sitting down on the ground in all humility and in all simplicity, in faith and believing as a little child. GOD will bless and will multiply and all will be satisfied. But if you think, as diners and as guests, that we cannot do it or if you think we can do it, you have a right to pay fifteen cents for your meal excluding salad and dessert and other delicacies. You have a right to pay fifteen cents if you take some of all of the vegetables some of all of the meats, some of all of the breads, some of all of the relishes and pickles and some of all of the beverages. You could take some of all of them and would not be obliged to pay more than fifteen cents if you do not take any dessert and salad or not anything else, but if you take salad, dessert and other delicacies, you would have a right to pay over and above the fifteen cents, whatsoever you would pay in the public dining room for the selfsame type of salad, dessert and other delicacies. That is trusted to your honesty, in a way of speaking; and again it is trusted to your honesty to give any amount above the fifteen cents and above what you would pay for the salad, dessert and other delicacies if you wish to.
(The above rates mentioned were as of the year 1948.)
You are obliged to do it. Then you will see to it that we are carrying out our plan and purpose to supply you with the abundance of the fullness and give you all the chance to eat just as I, MYSELF, do at all times and at every meal and at every place over which I preside, for the abundance of the fullness will be bountifully supplied if you do that which is just and right. You are not coerced into doing it. You are not requested to pay more than aforesaid, but if you desire to, after you have taken some of all of the vegetables and meats and breads and beverages and relishes and pickles and the full square meal, excluding salad and dessert, then if you desire to take salad and dessert and other delicacies aside from that, it would be your privilege to do so; but it would be your privilege to give any amount above that amount you are required to give, if you desire to do that which is just and right and desire to be honest and true. So that is your privilege.
But it will be supplied. To those who are preparing it and serving it, it will be supplied. There is a plenty to supply! I have enough love! I have enough Spirit! I have enough of MY Mind universally to bountifully supply each and everybody and satisfy their hearts' desires, and I will get in them and see that that which is just and right is done. That is, if they live!
Take these thoughts to consideration and live in this recognition, and every setting, unless perchance it would be that you would not be serving dessert here now at this table, the other extra dessert other than what we have served, the first dessert, delicacies and salad, you may serve something else at the other table at times, but as a general thing, I want all tables served in MY Mind when I AM Personally absent as when I AM Personally Present; then you are telling the people you know Who I AM. But if you do not, you are telling them you don't know Who I AM, because you are telling them you think I don't know what you are doing. You are telling them you think I don't know what's going on.
Take these thoughts to consideration and everything will work better and better and everything will work for the best. Things will not work just as they used to, for everything works for the good of man. All will enjoy the Abundance of the fullness and will be conscious of good, for good will be demonstrated all over as where I AM Personally ! I thank you.
(As FATHER left the Holy Communion Table 'mid thunderous applause, HE returned to HIS Office and began sweetly singing:)
"Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes
When the five thousand were fed.
Jesus had them to sit on the ground,
When the five thousand were fed.
They all obeyed the LORD'S Command
When the five thousand were fed.
Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes
When the five thousand were fed.
They all were fed and they had enough,
When the five thousand were fed;
Then seven baskets were taken up
When the five thousand were fed.
Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes
When the five thousand were fed.
The five thousand besides the children and the wives,
When the five thousand were fed.
They all did eat without forks and knives,
When the five thousand were fed.
Well, it's something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes,
Something like the two small fishes,
When the five thousand were fed."