This article reprinted from the booklet by the same title contains
typical questions asked concerning FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE
and the Peace Mission
Movement and the answers to them taken from FATHER DIVINE'S Own Words and other
Documents of the Movement
FATHER DIVINE feeds the people
and takes them off the welfare
"As I said, if it were only to solve . . . the social problem it has been solved as a sample and as an example for you. The abolition of every tendency of races, creeds and colors and divisions among us, has been brought to fruition, and established once and forever . . . What a privilege to live in such a recognition, where this Love which I have, can bring an abolition to all distinction and discrimination, and to all of the results, the cause of it and the effect thereof.." FATHER DIVINE - 9/18-19/38
". . . if in any community I AM permitted to do so, I will lift up a standard of perfection economically, socially and morally in our community that they might have something to copy after. Matters not what they may profess to be, GOD through His Condescension is Perfection for them. Therefore, they must observe the Supreme. It is only because there are barriers and obstacles set as a prohibition that cause ME to fail to express in the fullest measure of Supremacy of which I AM actually expressing in all of the places according to My Plan and My Purpose! But if you will let ME, I will lift up a Standard of Perfection and prove to the world conclusively, GOD is in you carrying on His Work of Grace in you as an Honor to all men and to all things which concern you."
FATHER DIVINE - 8/18/38
"An American citizen, if he or she is an American citizen, they must produce the spirit and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence, and bring this great Document within them to fruition and live it and express it vividly before they can be really independent. Unless you are independent in My Version, you are not a real American citizen . . . My Work, My Mission, My Activities are not merely to cause My Followers to express fanatically, happiness in the emotional way of expression, but as Scientific Expert Workers for the Establishment of a Righteous Government on Earth among men. This is My Purpose among them."
FATHER DIVINE - 9/18-19/38
". . . GOD ALONE SHALL REIGN IN DEMOCRACY, BROTHERHOOD, CHRISTIANITY, AMERICANISM AND JUDAISM AS SYNONYMOUS . . . We shall have a Righteous Government under our present Constitution and its Amendments and under the Declaration of the American Independence . . . I AM establishing Americanism in Europe, Asia and Africa . . . WE ARE REAL TRUE AMERICANS, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!"
FATHER DIVINE - 7/30/50
And:
"An American Flag of suitable size shall be properly displayed in this Church auditorium at all times."
Church Constitution, Discipline and By-Laws
And:
"We do not merely mean to recognize the Bill of Rights but we mean to ENACT the BILL of RIGHTS in every state, every hamlet or district in the Union. As you see it exemplified here, we mean to have it from shore to shore and from land to land, and all of the kindreds of the earth look to America for I have emphasized Americanism as the Foundation of the Kingdom of GOD on Earth to be established among men!"
FATHER DIVINE - 2/13/39
". . . this Righteous Government Platform upon we stand, I drafted it for the legislation of GOD'S Kingdom, the Law of GOD on earth among men. Yet it is the same thing that has been! GOD through His Condescension, has always been teaching men to bring the Laws of GOD to the earth plane."
FATHER DIVINE 8/18/38
And:
". . . I drafted the Platform and presented it to the government of our present civilization, yea, to all of the governments of the different worlds and fields of endeavor that they might recognize it and build upon it." FATHER DIVINE - 11/26/60
"In taking a retrospective look into the international strife and upheaval on this globe one can see how it all could have been avoided if the various leaders of the people and the heads of government would have taken cognizance of the different proposals I have made from time to time in an effort to evade the oncoming tides of inhuman and even barbaric warfare . . . In reviewing My many proposals, declarations, affirmations and proclamations one can note with an eye of discernment that they have been for the Preservation of Peace among men and the establishment of Brotherhood on earth. I have not confined My Righteous Desires to the welfare of this nation alone, but for the deliverance of humanity generally I make My Proposals."
FATHER DIVINE - 9/10/50
And:
" . . . I sent them (Peace Stamps) out on all of My letters of correspondence, some of what I had proposed to the authorities. In stamp form they came and in stamp form they go."
FATHER DIVINE 6/6/54
"We look forward to make Peace a reality, rather than making the extreme reverse."
FATHER DIVINE - 10/18/52
It is a place card given to guests of FATHER DIVINE. FATHER describes the picture as "International Peace in the air, on land, on the sea. Above our heads hangs the Liberty Bell; on either side of us, the American Flag of the Free Old Glory, the Liberty our government gives. Beneath us, the Capitol of the United States surrounded by the Powers that be a symbol of Infinite Protection." The picture of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE illustrated as above described is carried by followers and others as a symbol of the protection of FATHER DIVINE.
". . . there are two more letters added to this dispensation. It is no longer limited to A.D., but F.D. is now included . . . We have ushered in a New Day and a New Dispensation of the Son of GOD, not merely the dispensation of the Christian era, but we are now in the Angelic Dispensation of the year of our LORD, FATHER DIVINE . . ."
FATHER DIVINE - 12/30/38
". . . as FATHER DIVINE has often said, any individual who would fight physically for himself in self-defense has a right to fight physically in the defense of this country.
"Therefore, even though as a Church we stand unalterably opposed to war and the use of violence, and base our conduct upon the Sixth Commandment, which declares: THOU SHALT NOT KILL', and upon Jesus' own Command recorded in Matthew 5:39: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also', and Put up again thy sword into his place; for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword' Matthew 26:52. Yet we must allow the individual to take his stand in this great Spiritual Democracy, according to his conviction and the place wherein he stands."
Church Discipline Constitution and By-Laws
"The Co-operative System is an auxiliary in and under the Peace Mission Movement but run in independent units; therefore, the Co-operative System is not necessarily a church but the system itself is an auxiliary of the Peace Mission Movement. When and wheresoever there are co-operative groups united together and purchase personal or real property or have an established and individual enterprise, it is under the Peace Mission Movement but established by the Co-operative System through and by and for the individual unit established . . . the Co-operative System . . . is a system that works co-operatively for the advancement of the Movement and for the benefit of the Work in general. Therefore, those who voluntarily join the Co-operative System, they are not necessarily the Church, but they are becoming a part of the Co-operative System to and for the advancement of the Movement under which such churches and connections are established . . .
"Also under the Co-operative System there are individuals which purchase, hold and co-operatively own business places. But the businesses under the Co-operative System are usually on non-profit basis, whereas they may benefit the general public . . . if they desire to co-operate in the purchase of property for a new site for a church or for a school or any other charitable institution . . . they do it independently and then invite the church organization to take possession, and at times it may be owned by the Co-operative System enterprises but they may give the church the grant for the use of it until they deem it necessary to sign the property over to the church if it happens to be property that would be suitable for one of the churches and homes or any charitable enterprise."
FATHER DIVINE - 1/2/47
"If you take it intellectually, I have requested My Followers to all return to school. Those who have not developed to that place in consciousness where they can and will produce all that is in others by concentration and by the recognition of GOD'S Actual Presence, I have requested them to go to school. Intellectually, they will and they are studying from a personal point of view. They are proving themselves workmen from a intellectual point of view; therefore, we shall not fail in whatsoever we have endeavored."
FATHER DIVINE - 9/20/58
And:
"Those who had children, when they gave themselves over to ME and recognized My Deity, I blessed them and their children and educated them and made all of their children graduates of high schools, and many of them are going to college and can go if they wish to have everything from an intellectual standpoint of view that was to and that actually does satisfy their hearts desire . . ."
FATHER DIVINE - 8/28-29/49
"We believe that in preparing to meet accidents, sickness, death and disaster, we tend to bring about such conditions. Anything that tends to deprive us of our unadulterated faith in GOD; that will cause us to depend or lean on any prospect of uncertain riches, is in violation to our religious conviction. If we could lose by not having insurance, we would sooner have our faith than to sacrifice our faith to avoid the loss. GOD can make good the loss any time but faith is the great essential." and
". . . we also declare it to be contrary to our religious conviction to comply with any insurance law, old age compensation or pension security for the future, in the act of mistrusting GOD for the future, by depending on some uncertain riches and security. Many of us have sacrificed our occupation for our religious conviction, so as not to come under the Social Security Law."
Church Discipline Constitution and By-Laws
And again:
"My true followers do not insure themselves, their lives nor their children's lives; they do not insure for sick benefits and accidents or anything of that sort, because we intend to trust the Ever Presence of GOD with victory over all adverse and undesirable conditions and every hazard that may created by the other fellow' better known by the religions, the d-v-l!"
FATHER DIVINE - 12/31/50
"If you would stop and consider what I really mean to this people, you would know I mean more than merely that which may be termed preaching the Gospel to them . . . My true followers will not remain on the Relief if they are true followers of Mine."
FATHER DIVINE - 3/20/41
And:
"My followers by the influence of My Spirit, have not only saved the city twenty million dollars by My taking them off of the welfare, but they have saved the city, or returned to the city and state and the United States thousands and millions of dollars, by paying all of their old bills that were even outlawed, and by returning all stolen goods . . ."
FATHER DIVINE - 3/17-18/38
"I believe and know that Faith in GOD or your Faith in your religion according to your religious convictions, if you are True and Faithful, you can be healed of almost any and every ill."
FATHER DIVINE - 11/25/49
Furthermore,
"If for any cause, by deviating we are injured or sick; if after having sought deliverance through faith and our faith is not sufficient to reach the condition and we need medical treatment, or medical aid, skillful or professional assistance, we advise having such treatment. FATHER DIVINE has instructed His Followers to seek medical aid if after three days their faith is not sufficient to meet the condition."
Church Discipline - Constitution and By-Laws
(This article in booklet form can be obtained by writing directly to A D F D Publications for information.)
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