FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE
Entering the White Rock Baptist Church
Many dignitaries were present on this occasion; those who made themselves known by speaking and those who remained incognito. Included among the guests and officials were many ministers representing various Churches, not only in Philadelphia but in many other cities and states. His Honor, Gov. Martin, was represented by Mrs. Mary Rice Morrow, distinguished in national civic and social work and representative of many civic and charitable organizations throughout the Nation. His Honor, Mayor Bernard Samuel, arrived a little later in the evening, after having addressed a Meeting of the World War Veterans at Convention Hall, and cordially greeted FATHER and MRS. DIVINE and shook hands with FATHER, while cameras clicked and the Church was brilliant with the light of the flashlight bulbs. However, let us inject at this moment, he did not arrive in time to hear our Lord speak.
Major R. R. Wright, President of the Citizens and Southern Bank was also present, and introduced the Mayor when he spoke.
Many other dignitaries spoke later in the evening, including the President of the National Business Men's League, Mr. Roscoe Dunjee.
Now let us go back to the earlier part of the program. The chairman arose after the solo rendered by Rev. E. H. Booker, and to the surprise of everyone, left all thought of the program behind. It seemed that the chairman felt the pulse of his audience, and what they were waiting for dignitaries, officials, members and visiting friends alike and he arose to speak as follows:
'I should now like to interrupt the program to say there is a seat on the rostrum for Honorable G. Pierce of the Lincoln University.
'However, while we are waiting, I would like to present, for a very deserving expression of appreciation and congratulation, His Honor, FATHER DIVINE; and I would like for HIM to present His Wife.'
Amid thunderous applause and cheers, our Lord and Savior, FATHER DIVINE, arose and stepped forward in all majesty and grace to the pulpit, to face the microphones and speak as follows:
' PEACE EVERYONE! I think I will be obliged to use My usual Salutation. But first of all I would like to say to our honored Chairman and Representatives of the League, it is good to be here! And when I use My Salutation, "Peace", I mean to put Peace into action in My daily transactions!
"By the Unity of the Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose we mean to bring about that long-sought-for Universal Brotherhood of Man and the conscious realization of the FATHERHOOD of GOD for which we all have prayed.
"I will not take up your time at this instance because I have been only introduced to introduce My Companion, aren't you glad? ("So glad!" replied the followers present.) something you all have read of, at least, someone you all have read of and I AM quite sure you have heard of! Mother Divine's Service to Humanity
"In carrying out My great International and Interracial Mission on earth among men, after the decease of Mother Divine three or four years ago, her spirit was ever present with ME; but as the Scripture has said:
'GOD giveth it a body as it pleases HIM'
"Since 1882 on the sixth day of June, Mother Divine said it was (I did not keep a record of those things in those times; that is the time she said it was); Mother Divine gave her time and service for the up building of humanity, to bring about what we all observe here tonight Brotherhood, Christianity and Democracy.
"I was not married for human affection, lust and passion or self-indulgence, but to propagate virtue, honesty, brotherhood and democracy! And I carried this Body through thirty-two lynch mobs, endeavoring to bring about the Universal Brotherhood of man and to bring an abolition to division and segregation, as being termed now in these late years, JimCrowism.
I AM not discouraged and I AM not disturbed, for truly there are millions that have had this New Birth of Freedom, of Democracy, Brotherhood and Christianity, and the best of all, being born into a real citizenry of a true democracy as E Pluribus Unum; having brought an abolition to every sense of racism; for where racism exists there is division, there is self-exaltation and there is low-ration of some, and some may be self-exalted.
"But oh, how glorious it is! As a sample and as an example through the doctrine of democracy, brotherhood and Christianity and through exemplifying and living it and expressing it vividly, MOTHER DIVINE and MYSELF gave birth to the rise of the Peace Mission Movement as you see it! And millions and millions of real citizens in this Country and in other countries have this New Birth of Freedom! Free from racism, free from division and free from strife; and the best of all, free from all sin and from all crime!
"A true follower under this birth would not smoke a cigarette! A true follower of Mine would not owe any man a penny if he made the debt seventy-five years ago! This is the New Birth of Freedom, of Honesty and of Competence I have produced through the first One, and the first marriage to MOTHER DIVINE!
"After the decease of Mother Divine the Spirit produced a spiritual offspring of MINE that had been corresponding with ME from childhood and was chosen for the reincarnation of MOTHER DIVINE'S SPIRIT! And as GOD has said;
'It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body, and GOD will give it a body as it pleases HIM.'
"Mother Divine sought in all sincerity in consciousness while she was with ME, to have a Rosebud's body. She said she desired to go and come in a Rosebud's body! A Rosebud's body as incorruptible and undefiled as could be, was drawn directly to ME through many years of correspondence and through loving ME and serving ME in all sincerity! She has produced the quality of a real citizenry, plus that of an Angel, plus that of a real child of GOD, as a Sample and as an Example for others!
"Mrs. Divine presently, as you see Her, is the reproduction and reincarnation of the spirit and the nature and the characteristics of MOTHER DIVINE! (
As HE says this HE turns, sweetly smiles and says,
"Mrs. Divine,"
who smiles and arises in all the youthful beauty of Her Purity and Virtue, and bows slightly, and again takes Her seat. Immediately thunderous applause resounded and those in the back and all around stood up to get a better view. When the applause subsided, FATHER continued speaking as follows:)
'I will not detain you, but just to say, this Marriage came forth as it was in the days of JESUS, in the Fulfillment of the Scripture! It was to be as it was, yea, as it is, as GOD gave it a body as it pleases HIM, to marry Her legally, in the fulfillment of the legalistic system of Righteousness and of Decency! We agreed to marry and still live virtuous and holy as ever!
(Again thunderous applause resounded. Then FATHER said:)
'Therefore said I to the general public and to those who questioned ME, "Did YOU marry?"
I said Suffer it to be so!' and even to the minister! for thus it becometh us to fulfill all Righteousness!' Now aren't you glad?
("So glad!" again came the response.)
'And this was the accomplishment of the past of what you see and have heard of Mother Divine, Myself and My Mission. We endeavored not only to give this whole Nation a New Birth of Freedom but, we shall give by this New Marriage, an Interracial Marriage, as it may be termed; an International Marriage, as it may be termed, we mean to give our whole Civilization of every nation and every language, every tongue and every people, a new birth of freedom under god! I thank you!'
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