Circle Mission Church, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. Joseph N. Pilgrim
(The following inspirational song was firstly sung:)
Walk in the Light, it is shining so bright,
Walk in the light of MY PRESENCE,
Walk in the Light, it is shining so bright,
Walk in the Light of MY PRESENCE
Walk in the Light, walk in the Light,
Walk in the Light of MY PRESENCE.
Walk in the Light, it is shining so bright,
Walk in the light of MY PRESENCE,
Walk in the Light, it is shining so bright,
Walk in the Light of MY PRESENCE
You will have every desirable blessing without pleading,
Which the Spirit of MY PRESENCE. will bring,
If you walk in the Light you will always have a shadow,
Which is every desirable thing!
Walk in the Light, walk in the Light,
Walk in the Light of MY PRESENCE
Walk in the Light of MY PRESENCE.
(Mr. Pilgrim speaks as follows:)
Peace, FATHER Dear! Peace, MOTHER Dear! Peace, to our visiting guests and friends! Peace, Everyone! I thank YOU, FATHER and MOTHER Dear for YOUR WORDS that have been brought out in that beautiful melody stressing that we walk in the Light of YOUR PRESENCE. It is written:
"If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
FATHER, we were all in spiritual darkness until YOU came and revealed the Light of YOUR PRESENCE to us. I thank YOU for the millions that recognize YOUR DEITY and are walking in the Light of YOUR PRESENCE. It is also written:
"The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD."
FATHER, I thank YOU for knowing that YOU are GOD ALMIGHTY and that YOU are the CREATOR of every human being on the face of this earth, of every nation, language, tongue and people, and YOU have given each and every one YOUR SPIRIT which is YOUR CANDLE! There are many people alive today and they don't know they are in possession of YOUR SPIRIT which is YOUR, CANDLE. The reason for that is, no one can know that YOU are GOD, FATHER, unless YOU reveal it to them; and YOU have promised that YOU will turn and overturn and reach everyone, and reach them when the time comes. And when that time comes that they are willing and ready to receive YOU, they will find YOU right within them willing and ready to light the candle of their understanding and lead them, the way to walk in the Light of YOUR PRESENCE.
I thank YOU, FATHER, for the many sacrifices that YOU have made to establish this, YOUR Peace Mission Movement. YOUR Work of redemption for all mankind is perfect, complete; there is nothing that can be added to it and there is nothing that can subtract! ("It's true," came the sanction.) YOU have made provisions for all peoples mentally, spiritually, physically, democratically, economically, socially, educationally, and from every angle expressible YOU have made provisions for one and all and at the same time YOU free one and all. The reason why YOU can free one and all and YOU do not have to coerce anyone in following YOUR Teachings or persuade him in any way is because YOU ARE GOD! (Loud applause sanctions this remark.) The universe is YOURS! Infinitude is YOURS, and the bodies of the children of men universally, they are all YOURS! They are spirits, they are candles, they are all YOURS, therefore, YOU cannot lose anything.
Within the records of YOUR beautiful Teachings, YOUR WORDS of Spirit and Life can be found the solution to all problems for all people universally, therefore, all things are read,y now!
I thank YOU for the Personification of YOUR Holy BODY, because it is through and by YOUR Holy BODY that YOU have demonstrated the many blessings that YOU have brought into manifestation not only for those of YOUR Followers, but for all people universally. I thank YOU for YOUR SPOTLESS VIRGIN BRIDE, MOTHER DIVINE. I thank YOU for lighting Her Candle and holding Her up to the universe as a beautiful Light of Purity and Virtue. (Loud applause resounded.) And as YOU turn and overturn in the hearts and lives of the children of men, and awaken those who are yet latent and dormant and awaken the spiritual senses within them as YOU have awakened within us, they too will be able to walk in the Light of YOUR PRESENCE and enjoy YOU and MOTHER as we are. Thank YOU, FATHER and MOTHER, DEAR.
Mr. David Guileless:
Peace, FATHER! Peace, MOTHER! Peace, Everyone! I can just look at you and tell that you feel good, and I can also tell the reason why. As we have intimated tonight to our visiting guests and friends, we know that FATHER DIVINE is GOD ALMIGHTY! (Thunderous applause sanctioned this remark.) Making speeches is a wonderful thing. There is no people on earth that hear as many speeches as the Followers of FATHER DIVINE, but we are having a lot of fun, but FATHER does the work and we have all the fun. Isn't that right? ("Yes it is." came the sanction.) You know we believe much more in edification than we do in education. FATHER DIVINE knew there were more schools than churches and the churches failed to do as they should do, at least we think so. I don't believe they would agree with me altogether on that, but I do know this, that perfection is a compound of nature and until we are fully compounded, we differ from GOD; and if we differ from HIM, some of us are going to fall out with HIM along some lines and in some ways and somehow.
But FATHER DIVINE set before us a Doctrine which is in keeping with the Life and the Teachings of JESUS CHRIST as HE lived it HIMSELF as a Person. We keep that before us continually in all of our daily activities. We are satisfied within ourselves that if we don't assimilate perfection as FATHER DIVINE has set it before us, regardless of what or who you may be, you will have a problem knowing GOD because you will differ from HIM too much. When we shall see HIM, we sha11 be like HIM! Is it not written so? And the more you are like FATHER DIVINE, the more you know that HE IS GOD! You are not going to get holy in one day nor in two weeks, neither is anyone going to make you that way, but if you are willing to set yourself before life and let life set itself before you in actions and in deeds, each day the scales will be removed from your eyes and you won't have to punish yourself to follow GOD because HE's the sweetest thing in this world and you won't want anything else! The charming thing about FATHER DIVINF is the loveliness of HIS PERSON. You know there are spiritual bodies, there are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies.. The celestial bodies we know something about, the terrestrial bodies we know something about, but the spiritual bodies are hard to see; but when you see FATHER DIVINE like I see FATHER DIVINE, YOU will know that FATHER DIVINE is the SPIRIT of ALMIGHTY GOD; because — I have been around long enough to know — there is not a living soul on earth that can get past FATHER DIVINE and do it.
But not everyone wants to take the time to hear the Truth as we do. The Message that was just read— we hear many Messages and Lectures of FATHER'S daily recorded because they are reiterated to us. And why are they reiterated to us, why? Because the flesh doesn't want any parts of GOD, and that is what we are living in. The flesh never wanted GOD, but GOD wants us all contrary to the flesh — if you are willing to live contrary to the flesh, to deny yourself as JESUS required of you to do. This is a personal thing. If you are willing to make the sacrifice of the pleasures of material existence for GOD, HE will set HIMSELF up in you, and you will see the loveliness of FATHER DIVINE, the beauty and holiness of HIS Character, the Beauty of HIS LIFE as it is being lived by HIS Followers who are making the very best effort they can to live as Mary lived before JESUS was born and to live as JESUS lived as a Person. Isn't that a privilege? ("Yes, it's true, came the sanction.) Everyone who is willing to make such a sacrifice or even to consider it, to weigh it, set it before you, but don't let all the iniquity that the flesh has inherited, for GOD said HE would visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children from the third to the fourth generation, showing mercy unto all those who call upon HIM. If we are willing, all of us willing just to listen to FATHER DIVINE, we would be the happiest people in the world ! I thank YOU, FATHER and MOTHER.
Miss Carmella Gardier:
Peace, FATHER Dear, Peace, MOTHER Dear, Peace, to our visiting guests and friends! Peace, Everyone! You have heard a lot about FATHER DIVINE tonight and you are going to hear a lot more. Another facet of FATHER'S Teachings that you might be interested to know is, that FATHER DIVINE has taught us to be real, true Americans. You may think we look quite patriotic sitting up here, and it is not just for the Bicentennial; but these are the Choir uniforms of FATHER DIVINE'S International Rosebud Choir. FATHER has taught us that the Principles of Americanism, Democracy, Brotherhood, Judaism and Christianity are basically synonymous; and we revere the Documents of this country, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence just as we revere the sacred writings of the Scripture because we feel that they were inspired by GOD and we endeavor to put them into daily practice.
FATHER has taught us that it is up to each individual to live the Declaration of Independence the same as it is up to the country to do that, and by that we mean simply to be individually independent, to think independently, to be financially independent, to be independent in every way. We feel that it was not just for those men and women in seventeen seventy-six to devote their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to this Cause, but it is also for us in nineteen seventy-six to do the same if the country is to continue and to fulfil the promise that it had in the beginning. So we endeavor, as I said, to live these Principles of Americanism; and the Rosebuds have been inspired through the Teachings of FATHER DIVINE with many patriotic compositions that we sing in our Services which further tell of our patriotic religious conviction. We thank FATHER and MOTHER to sing some of these songs for you at this time.
(As aforesaid, many beautiful inspirational patriotic songs were sung, which inspired another Rosebud to speak as follows:)
Miss E. Ferne:
Peace, FATHER Dear, Peace, MOTHER Dear, Peace, to our visiting friends from Delaware. Peace, Everyone! FATHER Dear, a line in that song stressed my mind tonight where it said that "Old Glory was destined to magnify the right," but I was thinking how many times FATHER has spoken on the principles of Americanism, not the principles of the politicians as have been exemplified in so many offices throughout the land, but the fundamental principles that were established by inspiration in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of independence. We treasure especially the Bill of Rights because it gives us a right to express our religious and political convictions freely. No people can progress unless they can be allowed to intuitively express the best in them; and if there are laws and if there are limitations governmentally that prevent anyone from delving deep into the innermost self and bringing this out as an unfoldment, that government or that system is repressing the CHRIST.
This is why GOD had to come first to a nation that would free HIM to have a BODY, that would free the children of men or the people of the world, in your language, to express, that Principle better known as CHRIST. CHRIST didn't begin with JESUS, but JESUS was the perfect manifestation of the CHRIST. CHRIST is the PRINCIPLE of all Righteousness, Truth and Justice, all Love, all Kindness, all sacrifice and all beauty, but HE is Personifiable, HE is able to take on a BODY, HE is able to take on your body through self-denial, through consecration, through meditation, through concentration, through whatsoever way you see GOD to be; or even if you don't see GOD to be at all, if you live, you have life. You don't know where it came from, and when you die, you don't know where it goes. If you are an atheist or if you are a Christian, it is all on faith! This spark of Divinity, this sleeping giant that is in the hearts of men cries out for liberty, and this is why the American dream has been so magnetic over the years, and through the centuries and generations it has drawn people from every race, creed and color, every nation and every station in life; and they may not have had their ideals fulfilled here in actuality, but if they had followed the dream, they could have found the actuality.
And this privilege we have under the Bill of Rights grants us this Freedom to see GOD, to see the manifestation of the Sonship Degree as a Principle and to bring it to fruition in our own bodies. This is the Mission of FATHER DIVINE to bring to fruition the CHRIST Principle in humanity, the Principle of Honesty, Justice, right thinking, right doing, right speaking. As we practice it, that glorious CHRIST unfolds a petal at a time just as a rose. It is a glorious privilege to look out upon life and to know that you have a privilege, that today, it isn't just another day of a burden and a limitation, but that there is a hope for all humanity, and this is why America is destined to magnify the right, because by her Principles, by her doctrine, by her documents she is called upon to produce this Spirit of Independence and Freedom and Liberty and Righteousness that FATHER DIVINE has established among HIS Followers: FATHER has taken the Documents of the United States, and HE has taken the Old and the New Testaments and produced this Life in thousands and thousands of bodies. (Thunderous applause resounds.) We have seen the unfoldment of this Life in each other. We have seen those who have come from afar and have never seen FATHER or MOTHER Personally who have been living this Life,we have seen the CHRIST unfold in them. This you can see with your natural eye. We know this is real! We know this love that binds us together regardless to race is real! We know Honesty is real! — because every true Follower went back and paid every old bill, even up to seventy-five ,years ago; if they were old enough to remember they owed it, they went and paid it! (Thunderous applause resounds.)
Every Follower of FATHER DIVINE lives a Life of Virginity! Can a man make a group of people live virtuous and honest and Holy? ("No!" came the shout.) If he can, he has never appeared yet! That is why we know FATHER DIVINE is GOD, and it wasn't by HIS touching us or compelling us or coercing us, but making us see the desirability of casting off mortality from our minds and from our bodies and bringing ourselves into subjection to a pure Life that we could unfold in this glorious Truth.
It is not confined to the Followers of FATHER DIVINE. FATHER has many times said that anybody who lives righteously and honestly is a Follower of HIS even if he doesn't know the NAME of FATHER DIVINE, because it is a Principle, and a principle can live in any body that will come into subjection to it. (Loud applause sanctions this remark.)
That is why we are proud of Old Glory and we all intend to have a very good time in the Bicentennial because we feel that this is a coming together in America and an awakening. You know, America really needs to wake up! America has the seed idea, the real seed idea of Life — to bring something forth, and it must do it or it will perish just like every other civilization; for we believe that this Righteous Seed is sufficient to save America! We give YOU thanks and praise, FATHER DIVINE for this Righteousness that YOU have established, for this PRINCIPLE that we can see and follow, for all those who come to learn and to see; we thank YOU for the beauty that YOU have brought into our lives, because honesty, kindness and love are truly beautiful! CHRIST is beautiful! HE is as beautiful as a rose, and that rose is unfolding in your heart and mine. I thank YOU, FATHER.
Mr. Leo Everett:
Peace, FATHER, Peace, MOTHER, Peace, Everyone:
I just want to quickly, briefly say we are so proud of YOU, FATHER for bringing the reality of Americanism to us from all over the world — from Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Africa, Asia and all over America, because the people, if they had listened to YOU, FATHER, they would not be caught in the same snare that they are presently in in America today economically; because in 1936 and during the thirties when FATHER's Kingdom established the Peace Mission Movement as the vanguard for social, economic, and political government, not only for America, but for the world, the politicians at that time began to lean in FATHER's direction to some degree; but after they discovered they could capitalize on the weakness of humanity, they slipped away from the Principle that was offered up in the marketplace of the ghettos around the world, the ghettos of the minds of men. Harlem is a state of consciousness; because, the depression of the minds of the people, that is a "Harlem" state of consciousness. You can be in Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia, you can be on Park Avenue, you can be in West Chester county of New York State, you are in a ghetto state of consciousness if there is a depression of mind existing whereby you do not come out of the darkness of the errors of men, turn from their ways and live in the principles of Right that were described momently ago by a Rosebud that FATHER had brought about, and universalized this Principle.
I thought about how stressfully FATHER's Teachings are very concrete. They are very real. They are very practical. The,y are very usable. They are very visualizable. These are not just fantasies and idealisms that we wallow in some sort of eons of years to come into existence. We live this Here and Now! We know this reality of this Beauty that was spoken of, this utter Beauty that humanity has bypassed, and yet it has been offered up!
All through the ages FATHER DIVINE established integration in such a concrete, manifested way that even the citizens of Philadelphia were not grasping FATHER's Principles. FATHER came and broke down discrimination in (swimming) pools, in skating rinks, in the hotels in Philadelphia. When FATHER came here you (people of color) couldn't go to a decent hotel that they termed "decent" and live in a first class hotel. FATHER DIVINE came and brought the practicality of HIS Reality. This is not any supposition or any imaginary religious emotionalism. This is reality of life I'm speaking about.
You deal in the widespread crime situation in the country. You don't have followers of FATHER DIVINE in jails. You have, 48 thousand men (and women) in the City of Philadelphia on probation and parole. Not a single one is a Follower of FATHER DIVINE. You have the tremendous burden of the welfare programs — all kinds of agencies, and all kinds of reconstructed government programs to aid the people. It seems to further carry them down on a crutch instead of lifting them up in a spirit of motivation, to establish themselves individually independent, so that you don't have to depend on "hand-outs". It should have been as a springboard to booster them into some reality of awareness of yourself that you have a responsibility to yourself. FATHER DIVINE did this! Millions of dollars are being spent daily in America and around the world for armament, for welfare programs, for crime, and all that sort of thing. It is not a reality in the Peace Mission of FATHER DIVINE — and we are real people! In every (social) class, in every capacity in every day.
You see us here with our uniforms on. In the daytime, you'll find us at the "ivory towers", lawyers, construction workers; you'll find us in the classrooms at universities, as well as garbage collectors. In every capacity of life this marvelous spark, no matter what we are doing. FATHER DIVINE has brought about a beauty of fitting in the harmony of the universe! This is it: realizing the rhythm of life is in your participating in all that which is on-going to benefit one another. This is the new world to come, is when you have brought happiness to another in your daily encounter.
I thank FATHER for this reality of life! This reality of true Americanism that has still escaped most Americans. They still scoff, scorn, and look askance, and come up with all kinds of committees and study programs, and the reality has been established! In the midst of the people, It has been established! The Bicentennial is so beautiful to us because FATHER DIVINE is The American of Americans!
FATHER DIVINE has been a real Patriot through accusations, of persecutions, of legal manipulators. HE endured all of that with humility, kindness, no hatred for those who rose against HIM, FATHER DIVINE exemplified the Perfection of humility. I, as a person or any other man would do, would react in such a way that would be very violent. Gently speaking (concerning FATHER), offering up Love, when hatred was running rampant in this City, in New York City, and everywhere else. This is nothing less than GOD that is represented in our lives!
Man could not give us this Consciousness that when we go to and fro among humanity, dressing and looking like them, wearing suits and "turtle" necks, and other modest things they wear, and yet being housed with this Consciousness! It's just beyond words. I thank YOU FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE!
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