Peace Center and Nazareth Missions' Home for the Aged,
Church and Training School of New York
13-17 W. 128th Street, New York City
As the Holy Communion Hall of the Peace Center and Nazareth Missions' Home for the Aged, Church and Training School glittered with the Majesty of the Presence of Our FATHER DIVINE, and with the patriotic costumes worn by the Rosebuds, the Youth group of the Peace Mission, no artist could have painted such a magnificent scene.
During the course of the Banquet, the Rosebuds gave a wonderful demonstration in the form of a play entitled, "The Rosebud's Declaration of Independence", which depicted their Freedom from the bondage of mortality to lives of complete Freedom from every mortal tie that tends to bind, even as our country declared her Independence as a nation.
After this beautiful demonstration had been given, FATHER arose to let one and all know the main purpose for which that building had been set apart, and to also verify the statements of one of the Rosebuds who had been an invalid, and whom FATHER had healed and blessed. Her remarks will be found elsewhere in this issue.
FATHER, we thank YOU for the Supreme Blessing that YOU are to the youth of today and to all mankind.
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, and FATHER'S Message follows:)
PEACE EVERYONE! Here we all are again; there I sit and stand; in the Unity of Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose among you I remain as the Magnet of Salvation, to keep you united together in the UNITY of the Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose. By this we stand; and by this we remain.
While listening to the speaker that mentioned the handicap in childhood from the age of five, I thought to say to our visiting friends especially, it is a privilege to be in the Hands of GOD. While those who were called her parents, the mother and the father, could not save this child, and they thought that she would forever be an invalid and a great liability to them for life, but oh, how glorious it is to put your trust in GOD. It is written:
'He who puts his trust in Me shall never be confounded.'
Although this child was confounded in the beginning as an invalid and could not
carry herself around efficiently, even to give service if she would have been
physically fit otherwise, but oh, how glorious it was to realize, "just
a little talk with My Spirit and everything will be all right." And when
this child was restored to health to a degree that it could be distinctly seen
and known that something miraculous had happened, she also sought diligently
to qualify herself to acquire this independence of which we are now speaking;
not only an independence from mortality, from a mortal point of view as depicted
by the Rosebuds this evening, but to free herself from economic slavery. By the
Spirit of My Presence I gave her her real emancipation, for she is not as much
a liability to the parents as a good many others who were physically well and
healthy.
This speaker, after finishing school, has received a government position earning a very good salary, and can be absolutely independent and express a real independence as an individual, even as our country declared her independence as a nation. This is in part a slight sketch of My Teaching. How can we, the American people, express our independence as a nation if we cannot and do not express it individually? For this cause I present to the world at large, without a reasonable doubt for contradiction, that I have something here second to none. But as a Sample and as an Example for all government and for all mankind, I come.
This very demonstration this evening, I AM demonstrating a sketch of it to let you see and know definitely, GOD can and will emancipate each and everybody if they will let HIM. The difficulties and oppositions do not set as a barrier of prohibition for ME, but they set as barriers as though they were a prohibition, but as an expression to create energy and an ambition to overcome them. And when these oppositions arise you realize there is something in you bigger, better and greater than all oppositions, all handicaps and all limitations; for GOD is Omnipotent, and GOD truly is within you.
Then I say, live in this recognition and build upon this Foundation. If you retrace your thoughts back to the seeming physical handicap of our Chief Executive, the President of the United States, being somewhat physically handicapped apparently, it was but for the purpose to create within him an energy with an ambition and a determination to go on to perfection politically, legally and scientifically and pave out the way scientifically for others to seek something that would eliminate such conditions as he had suffered and was undergoing -- infantile paralysis. Because of his personal physical handicap from that angle of expression, it caused science and skill to get to work and work effectively for the benefit and health of millions to lift them from such a condition and the conditions such as he was suffering. Can you not see the mystery?
That is from a scientific point of view; but from an intellectual, from a political and from a statesmanship point of view for the benefit of all humanity, the handicaps of men will help them to advance and go on to perfection; because if they do not, they know they will not get a square deal. They must over measure, they must overbalance, whichever. For this cause I overbalance every expression of religion, for if I did not I would not get a square deal among the people.
I set up a Sample and a Standard for all humanity religiously, politically, socially and morally and from every angle expressible and go more than one hundred percent; because if I do not overcome the ordinary standard of measure, we will not get a thing. So oppositions are good because they cause you to be persistent in your ambition and go on to perfection to overcome your shortcomings. For this cause we stand as a sample and as an example for the children of men morally, socially, intellectually, financially and from every angle of expression.
I say financially! I say financially! I want My enemies and My friends to understand what I say. The followers of Mine, through the co-operative system and through the science of living that I have given them, have a purchasing power second to none. They have unlimited purchasing power. Aren't you glad! And whensoever there is anything to be purchased as real property or anything of that sort, any place in this country, they will tell you, "Why don't you see FATHER DIVINE?"
Now I do not have any money. But I came as the poorest among men, yet making many rich by the co-operative system and by the science of living. Can you not the see the mystery? But all of this to them I have freely given, as I AM a free gift to the world, gratis to mankind. And I mean to continue to give it because just as I have it here in this Holy Communion Hall, those who will bring themselves into subjection to My Life and My Spirit and My Teaching, I will give them the same privilege and the same expression of Success and Prosperity, of Life, Health and Happiness. I need not say more from that angle, because actions speak louder than words. The actuated words of expression, I AM daily speaking them better than I could personally tell you.
Even in our school here, they tell ME the place is overrun all the way out to the street. They have not even got accommodations in this building to accommodate them. But this school, this institution was purchased, organized and set apart especially for the youth group. I want you all to understand that -- especially to advance the youth groups, to help them, and to encourage them. Those who are living evangelically, virtuous and otherwise respectable, we desire to help them. For this cause, the Rosebuds and the Crusaders must have free access for expression, because they are living Soberly, Righteously, Virtuous and Godly.
Those of the adults, we are pleased to accommodate some in these schools here and elsewhere; but we say to those who are teachers, willing to give their service gratis to and for the cause of this great advanced civilization: we do not want you to deprive yourselves as teachers, of your daily occupation and profession for the purpose of teaching night schools. Those of you who are pupils, we do not want you to deprive yourselves of your daily occupation and daily positions in order to come to school; hence, it is to the teacher the same as to the pupil.
Neither of you, if you are able-bodied and are not going to day school and are earning a livelihood to continue to express your independence, you must continue to fill your respective positions and do not retard your advances in business or in trade because of going to school as pupils or as teachers. We want you to come to school, but we want you to get that extra touch. Let it be that extra blessing in coming to school. We do not want you to sacrifice your daily livelihood to come to school as a pupil and as pupils, and we do not want you as teachers, to sacrifice your daily occupation or position to impoverish yourselves to come and give your service gratis as a teacher.
The facilities are furnished by the churches, by this church, and the school is free. If we have teachers who desire to volunteer their services to give two hours per night each week, it is ok if you can afford it, but if you cannot afford it, do not sacrifice your daily occupation for the purpose of giving service gratis, by trying to express hospitality and not be in a position to do it. Take these thoughts to consideration! Hence, everything can go on independently the same as it has been, and if all abide by My Teaching, not a one will ever have an occasion to go back on the relief. You will not have an occasion to seek public charities, nor public aid from any person or persons or institutions, but if you disobey My Teaching and give up your daily occupation and your positions for the purpose of teaching school, you may find yourselves in the balances weighed and found wanting.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you into the right path. This church and all of the churches with which I AM connected and represent, they are absolutely independent. They do not take up collections. They do not do any soliciting in any of our churches and in any of our institutions. All are kept and run absolutely independently by the members and not by any outside contributions or solicitation. Therefore, I say, copy after the fashion I have shown you.
This property here is all free and clear, and all of the properties purchased, owned and operated by the followers as churches or as organizations or as groups of owners, they are free and clear. Therefore I say, take cognizance of what I have shown you and live according to My Teaching, and your church and your business and everything else, can remain absolutely Independent even as I AM Independent.
But if you impoverish yourself or deprive yourself of your occupation for the purpose of going to school and do not have the money to meet your daily obligations, why, naturally it is detrimental to you; you bring yourself into condemnation by becoming to be indebted to others or as a liability to others. But if you live exactly according to My Teaching and if you desire to attend the schools as pupils or desire to teach the school or classes, whichever, as teachers and can afford by doing so absolutely independently and have a position and the means to meet your daily obligations and live independently, it is justifiable in the sight of both GOD and man, but it would not be justifiable in the sight of GOD nor in the sight of man to make yourself a liability on public charities nor even on this institution, or any other charity, for each and everyone must stand absolutely independent. As I had this little child to become to be independent to her parents, I want all of the pupils and members to remain independent to charity, even to the charitable institutions that they are giving birth under. I thank you.
****************