The 29th day of April.
An International Holiday
"So that we become accustomed to looking out over the horizons, FATHER DIVINE said "that just as it is under His Personal Jurisdiction so shall it be all over the world."
'As I have it right here, I have extended it from shore to shore and from land to land! It shall be continually expanded and extended from shore to shore and from land to land and throughout all countries wheresoever man is found!'
New Day, May 4, 1991, p. 4, given Kingston, New York, June 17, 1951
On July 4, 1932 in Haskell, New Jersey, FATHER DIVINE said:
'I came to gather the elect from the four corners of the earth. There shall be no division among you throughout the whole universe, for every nation, every language, every tongue and every people shall enjoy of this wonderful love and shall sit at this Table that no man shall be able to make you ashamed, for this is the Table of GOD, the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, . . . and I have come to let you know that all things in CHRIST are now ready. Come, for the supper is spread. Eat, Drink and be Merry, for tomorrow you shall live.'
New Day, August 30, 1975, p. 18
The Marriage of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE on April 29, 1946, and subsequently the Celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Bride with the countless Review Celebrations throughout the world, brought real meaning and fulfillment to FATHER DIVINE'S declaration, given above. The question could well be asked, "How cometh these things to be?"
When the phenomenal news of this Marriage went abroad in July of 1946, the International followers received it joyfully many it seemed, with a sense of expectancy. . . . The International followers would never be the same. . . . They were lifted to a degree of understanding and a place of enthusiastic anticipation, where they were both ready and willing to move ahead with the Spirit, in this Divine Scheme of things.
FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE
in the Unity Mission Church office, Philadelphia, PA.
The year 1947 brought forth the Anniversary Review Celebrations, and representative followers from many foreign countries traveled to America in answer to that invitation
' It's Interracial, it's International.
The World has an Invitation to come!'
And so they came, and so they have continued to come through all these years
. . . traveling in the consciousness of GOD'S Ever Presence and experiencing
His Protection, "In the Air, On Land, and On the Sea."
The year 1947 had brought forth the first of the International Celebrations, and now nothing would stop them as each year came along neither distance, numbers, languages, circumstances or systems of men.
There were Celebrations as far away as New Zealand. There were large gatherings in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia. In Switzerland also, several cities were the scene of large crowds in Basel, Winterthur, Zurich and Rorshach. Croyden, England, and Goeppingen, Augsburg and Eldagsen in Germany, held Celebrations, as did Nice in France. There were observances of the Anniversary in Spanish speaking countries and even in the Russian Zone, as in Graz and Vienna in Austria. Followers in Canada, the Canal Zone in Panama, and several countries in South America and Africa enjoyed Anniversary Celebrations.
FATHER DIVINE had truly gathered the elect from the four corners of the earth! For this Spirit had gone from shore to shore, from land to land, and from country to country.
Recordings were received in foreign lands from Philadelphia, with FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE'S Sermons, and songs of Praise from the Congregation and the Rosebud, Crusader and Lily-Bud Choirs. . . . It can well be imagined the great effect of joy and inspiration that these recordings created.
Likewise, the International followers sent FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE recordings of their services with their testimonies, their songs of Praise, the guitars in Germany and the Alpenhorn in Switzerland. . . . .
FATHER DIVINE had declared English as the Universal Language as early as 1937, and the International followers had endeavored to study English for many years, for it was their desire to read FATHER DIVINE'S Words in English, and not through translations. Now with the recordings, they found themselves more determined to master the English Language, for they could now hear these Messages in English, FATHER speaking in His own Voice, in His chosen Language, that HE had designated as the Common Language. . . .
The establishment of incorporated Branch Churches in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Panama and Australia brought a fuller observance of the Anniversary Review Celebrations each year. To the followers in other lands, it meant that the Celebrations could be held "under their own vine and fig tree," and especially so with the appearance of Rosebuds, Crusaders and Lily-Buds in uniform, representing this Virtuous Standard of International Virtue, Holiness and Virginity. . . . All realized that living this Virtuous Standard was what really mattered, and the International followers were both ready and willing to live it, thereby manifesting what FATHER DIVINE said at the Divine Tracy Hotel on January 1, 1951:
'GOD is universalizing this Holiness, this Decency and this Virtue, as produced and brought to fruition in My Spotless, Virgin Bride.'
The value of The New Day with its coverage of the Anniversary Celebrations could
never be accurately estimated, especially when the accounts were pictorially
illustrated. The New Day has truly been the connecting link between the followers
throughout the world and America. It is has proved to be really historical, showing
the Tables spread in so many countries. FATHER DIVINE has often shown His guests
these pictures which demonstrate the work of His Spirit in these places where
HE did not choose to go Personally. It was His great pleasure to point out Old
Glory flying in London, the Tables in Switzerland protected by the Virtue planted
therein and the great demonstrations in Australia.
FATHER DIVINE declared on August 6, 1948, on one of His famous Peace Stamps:
'This is GOD'S Administration, and all nations, this whole generation and even our present civilization shall have a New Birth of Freedom under GOD, for I declare that Americanism, Brotherhood, Democracy, Christianity and Judaism are synonymous.'
In the International Celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the Bride,
FATHER DIVINE has presented a sample of what it could be for all Nations and
Countries.
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