Thousands and thousands literally filled the huge Convention Hall as the honored guests filed in and took their respective seats on the rostrum. The stage behind them held rows and rows of chairs arranged on a gradually raised platform which allowed the audience to have a full view of Mrs. A. C. Bible's National Freedom Day Chorus on one side, and FATHER DIVINE'S Rosebud Chorus on the other. The hundreds and hundreds of "Rosebuds" in their beautiful red jackets, white blouses and navy blue skirts, navy blue tams and white gloves were an inspiring sight as they presented in actuated expression the enactment of the Bill of Rights.
A loud cheer and thunderous applause rang through the Hall as Major R.R. Wright, Sr. and FATHER DIVINE came upon the rostrum, escorted by several of the police who held back the crowd to let them through.
During the course of the interesting program the Mayor, Honorable Bernhard H. Samuel, entered amidst applause. Then, shortly thereafter, the Governor, Honorable General Edward Martin made his appearance, and everyone stood up to pay their due respect. United States Senator, Honorable Francis J. Myers, was next to be respectfully received.
Let it be said that the audience showed its approval when shortly after the Mayor had made his appearance, our Beloved Savior arose and went over to him and was introduced by Major Wright. The Mayor immediately arose and shook hands with FATHER as lights flashed and cameras from every direction recorded the scene. After the Governor and the Senator had arrived, FATHER was again introduced to both of them, and again lights flashed as the cameras recorded the stirring pictures of FATHER shaking hands with both. Then, by mutual request of all concerned, several minutes were consumed in taking pictures of Governor Martin, Mayor Samuel, FATHER DIVINE and Senator Myers standing together in close conversation, discussing the program for the Freedom Day Celebration.
Senator Myers,FATHER DIVINE,
Governor Martin and Mayor Samuel
The newspaper cameramen scrambled to take this significant picture which, from left to right, shows U.S. Senator Francis Myers to the right of FATHER standing with his arm around HIM. On the left of FATHER stands Governor Martin, and to the left of the Governor stands Mayor Samuel. FATHER and the Governor are holding between them a copy of the program for the evening. Again the huge audience thunderously cheered with appreciation.
During the course of the evening the many invited and honored guests spoke. Several stirring selections were rendered by Mrs. Bible's Chorus.
By request the colorful "Rosebud" Chorus sang a selection not scheduled for that time on the program. It was the inspirational composition, "I love America!" and was received by an outburst of applause.
Shortly thereafter, the Mayor, Honorable Bernhard Samuel, gave his interesting address, at the conclusion of which he was presented with a silver loving cup by Bishop David H. Sims. Then, the Governor, Honorable General Edward Martin, delivered his inspiring address and was in turn presented with a silver loving cup by one of the representatives for Major R.R. Wright, Sen. in appreciation for his service in behalf of National Freedom Day. U.S. Senator, Honorable Francis Myers, also gave an inspiring address, favoring forcefully the Passage of the FEPC Bill and requesting a national, yes, an international Bill of Rights.
Then, the "Rosebud" Chorus rendered a beautiful inspirational number, entitled, "Free! Free! Free!" which they demonstrated with dramatic action. All the honored guests received it enthusiastically, and the huge Hall rang with the applause accorded by the audience.
It was after this number that the Dean of the Universe, FATHER DIVINE, was introduced, and arose in all Majestic Grace and stepped forward to speak. It was several minutes before HE could speak, however, because the audience and guests alike cheered and applauded so, that it was impossible to hear a thing.
Finally as the noise subsided, our Beloved Savior delivered this vital patriotic address which is herein recorded.
Thank YOU, O Americanism Exemplifier!
(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, after which FATHER speaks as follows:)
PEACE EVERYONE! Mr. Chairman, Governor Martin, Mayor Samuel and all of our honored guests: It affords ME no small degree of pleasure to be here today to emphasize that which we all love so well -- FREEDOM! as by Proclamation, FREEDOM DAY, and also FREEDOM that has been set apart by the great Emancipator of American slavery as recorded and given in the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States!
We are happy to be here, and as I have often said, we are happy to represent Americanism one hundred percent!
For this cause I pause, and as a part of My Message we are going to ask everyone under the sound of My Voice to sing in unison a very familiar number once considered and known by many as the United States' Anthem, "My Country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty". May we all sing this little number for consideration according to our religious conviction and according to the declaration of our National Freedom. May we sing together just for a few minutes, and I will not detain you but I will consider it as a part of what I would have to say.
(Accordingly, the honored officials as well as one and all assembled in the vast Hall, arose as one person and together we all sang, "My Country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty". At the conclusion of the singing after all were seated, FATHER continued speaking as follows:)
That little number said, in short, a little said but a whole lot meant; and through the experience of such as this, we can say in reality, "My Country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty!"
We believe in bringing into Actuality our Religious Conviction and we Live our Constitution and we Enact our Bill of Rights. We also believe in Living our Declaration of Independence individually even as our Country declared her Independence as a nation!
For this cause I can heartily endorse what our Honored Governor said: We cannot expect to be free so long as we are dependents, or words to that effect. We are looking forward to a day when every American citizen will be able to DECLARE his Individual Independence even as our Country declared her Independence as a nation! Those under My Doctrine believe it. NOT A TRUE FOLLOWER OF MINE IS ON THE RELIEF ROLLS! NOT A TRUE FOLLOWER OF MINE IS TAKING THE DOLE! That is what I AM talking about! (These last remarks by FATHER were punctuated by sound applause from the officials and other guests present, and the audience cheered. FATHER then continued:)
It may sound somewhat radical and fanatical but I came to give them the New Birth of Freedom! Aren't you glad! ("So glad, FATHER!" echoed the hundreds and hundreds of Followers throughout the audience.)
This is Freedom Day, of which we all revere, recognize and honor the representatives of it; even the great statesman, Abraham Lincoln, so often quoted by your Humble Servant; but he knew there was another Freedom that he could not give them -- "that this whole nation," said he, "under GOD!" He did not say under himself or any other politician, but "That this whole nation under GOD, might have a New Birth of Freedom; that Government BY the people, FOR the people and THROUGH the people might not perish from the earth!"
The Four Freedoms are great, but that is not all. I came to free mankind from vice and crime and from sin and debauchery of every kind! I came to free them from segregation! I came to bring about the Unification of the Nation as well as the Unification of All Nations! Now aren't you glad! ("Oh, so glad, LORD!" again exclaimed the Followers.) And that is what I AM doing! I shall not be discouraged and I shall not be disturbed until I shall have accomplished that for which I Came!
Can you not see that as long as you are divided in races, creeds and colors, you are preparing for another Hitler to Rise? But I Came to curb Hitlerism! I Came to curb Hitlerism and all Fascism and all Nazism by curbing division, vice and crime and sin and debauchery of every kind! Aren't you glad! ("So glad!" came from the Followers.)
I Came to Represent the Amalgamation of all Nations, Languages, Tongues and People that we might be One Nation, Indivisible! That is what you have been calling for! You sing it in your schools of learning and you sing it even in your Sunday Schools and in all society, the song that we all love so well in reference to Old Glory, of which we all revere! Aren't you glad! ("Truly glad!" replied the adoring Followers.)
May I pause for a moment -- seemingly a slight digression, but I hope I AM not out of order -- to let you see what I AM emphasizing, what I AM advocating, what I AM stressing, what I AM producing, what I AM living and what I AM personifying, if you please -- and universalizing! May we sing just a few verses -- just a verse or so by each and all -- you all know it -- the Pledge of our Allegiance to our Flag. Let us sing it as Real American Citizens, as a Prayer and as a Desire that this Pledge might be a Living Reality from Shore to Shore and from Land to Land!
(Accordingly, all arose once more, and, led by the "Rosebud" Chorus, sang patriotically the Pledge of Allegiance as set to inspirational music. At the conclusion of the singing, as all were seated, FATHER concluded His beautiful Address as follows:)
PEACE EVERYONE! I will not bore you much longer, for I believe in the Words I have said and the songs we have sung I have given you a slight sketch and a reflection of a percent of a fraction of a grain of a percent of what I actually MEAN and what we are DOING. We mean to make ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE. That means, UNDIVIDED. We are intelligent but we do not seem to know what INDIVISIBLE means!
WE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS, WE ARE NOT RACES, WE ARE NOT CREEDS AND WE ARE NOT COLORS! WE ARE AMERICANS! I thank you!
(As FATHER resumed His Seat, applause again rang through the Hall in thunderous volume and several of the guests came over to shake hands with our Savior.)
The Program then continued; however, shortly thereafter, an announcement was made that as the Governor had to be back in Harrisburg before morning, he would now take leave of the celebration. Before leaving, the Governor shook hands warmly with FATHER. Also before Senator Myers left, he shook hands with FATHER, and promised that in the near future he would plan to attend one of the Righteous Government Meetings in Philadelphia.
The Mayor also made his departure, but before doing so he took a seat beside FATHER and conversed with HIM for several minutes. Before leaving he again shook hands with our Savior.
At last as FATHER arose to make His seeming departure at the end of the program, the guests again flocked around FATHER to shake hands and congratulate HIM. Then FATHER turned once more to the audience, and even though the microphone was not on, yet when HE said, "PEACE EVERYONE!", the Hall became silent as everyone stopped and turned to listen attentively. FATHER spoke forcefully as follows:
PEACE EVERYONE! We will Present and Represent the Bill of Rights! That is what we will Present and Represent! We shall not only have EQUAL RIGHTS but the VERY SAME RIGHTS!
These remarks were soundly applauded and FATHER then shook hands with Major R.R. Wright, Sen. And graciously thanked him and congratulated him. FATHER then invited the Major to come over to the Unity Mission Church, Home and Training School, Inc. at 907 North 41st Street where the Holy Communion Service was awaiting FATHER'S Personal Presence, and join with HIM in the festivities. Many of the representatives and delegates sent from various States by their respective Governors came over to pay their respects to FATHER, and a number of them accepted of FATHER'S Gracious invitation to join HIM in the Banquet Services immediately following, over at the Unity Mission Church. Bishop David H. Sims also congratulated FATHER, and our LORD in turn extended to him an invitation to be His Personal Guest at the Banquet Services.
Then our LORD and Savior with His Staff of Secretaries, and followed by an adoring throng, started to leave. However, the crowd pressed in for a look at FATHER and impeded the passage. This was alleviated, nevertheless, by a special detachment of police who surrounded FATHER and escorted HIM quickly and expertly to His waiting car.
When FATHER arrived at the Unity Mission Church at Forty-first Street, hundreds and hundreds of Followers were already present and waiting to greet HIM enthusiastically, and a number of honored guests who had been invited soon made their appearance. Busloads of Followers and visitors alike continued to make their way to the Church, and soon the large building was crowded to capacity.
During the Holy Communion Service which was Personally served by our LORD, the guests continued to exclaim over the abundance and variety of the many courses of delicious hot food, the salads, desserts, the great variety of breads, relishes, beverages, etc.. A number of representatives from the various States gave open expression of praise and Thanksgiving to FATHER for His great and glorious Work and Mission. Other guests also spoke and gave praise and appreciation of the blessings they shared on this festive occasion.
FATHER then made an announcement to the effect that the Holy Communion Service would be continuous and other Tables would be served until all who desired to eat had well dined. The public dining room also took care of a capacity crowd who kept the dining room filled. Even the bus drivers were taken into consideration by our Loving Savior who forgets not the least one, and they all were served delicious dinners.
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