Father Divine

Our Father’s message at the Hoboes’ banquet No. 204 on West 63^rd Street New York City on Thursday afternoon Thanksgiving day, November 23^rd, 1939 A.D.F.D. from 6:00 to 12:00 p.m.

The new date for Thanksgiving Day, as set forth by the President of the United States, was accepted by many States, and many people enjoyed this apparently premature holiday.  One of the happiest groups, foremost in the acceptance of this change in custom, consisted of members of “The Hoboes of America,” who were guests of FATHER DIVINE, the GREAT SAVIOUR of humanity, at a royal feast at the Sixty-third Street Extension of the Peace Mission.  Mr. Ralph Dalton, who heads this organization, has become interested in the great Work of FATHER DIVINE, and has been attending the Righteous Government Forums quite frequently.  He discovered, while in the PRESENCE of FATHER DIVINE, the very thing and the only thing that could bring happiness in the lives of “the forgotten men,” the hoboes; and having the interest of these men at heart, he was happy to know that FATHER DIVINE, Who loves all mankind, would receive these unfortunate men as His guests, to a real Thanksgiving Dinner, a Banquet of chicken, duck, turkey with dressing, creamed potatoes, baked macaroni, creamed carrots, greens, pickled beets, other vegetables, many kinds of bread, pumpkin pie, ice cream, and everything that goes to makeup a “real Thanksgiving dinner” including cranberry sauce.

At the regular midday Banquet, at the Madison Avenue Residence, FATHER mentioned this occasion, and gave all who desired to attend “The Hoboes” Banquet the privilege of doing so.  However, HE did not state definitely that HE would be present in Person, as there were many things waiting His Personal attention.  But being ALL-Compassionate, even as HE was in the Sonship Degree of Expression, HE sacrificed these other things, for the sake of the lowly, and Condescendingly gave HIS time and Service to these “forgotten” men.

Many of these persons who are known as “hoboes” are men whose scholastic ability shows they have come from fine homes, and have had splendid educations.  They are, by no means, all base and degraded.  Many of them have been radical, with advanced ideas, and finding society a sham, unwilling to support them in their views, they have denounced society, and disinherited themselves from its connection, and have joined the ranks of other unfortunate and under-privileged persons, that they might live their own lives of freedom, unhampered by conventionality and tradition.  These men, whose experience is far more varied than that of most persons in society; who have been looked down upon by those called the “elite”; their hearts beat truer and more sincere than some who are robed in costly clothes, and their hearts were filled with appreciation to FATHER DIVINE, for this Christly Expression of love, which was the first time, they stated, during the existence of the organization, that such a benevolent act was tendered them.  FATHER served them out of the fullness of His Love, with both the material and Spiritual food, and instructed them in the way of service.  KIND SHEPHERD, we sincerely thank THEE.

(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, after which FATHER speaks as follows:

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Father Divine’s message given while at a banquet table of Musical Fund Hall 830 locust street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday evening and Monday morning September 3^rd and 4^th, 1939 at  2:35 a.m.

               Concentration on the Perfect Picture, the Christ ─ FATHER DIVINE ─ may well be stressed as the great essential in achieving rest, Peace of mind and soul, and victory over every opposition, for it is by this concentration on the Lamb that HIS Meekness, HIS Lowliness and Lamblikeness are transmitted, and it is these qualities which are the victory.

            In this beautiful Message delivered to the masses during the serving of the banquet in the Musical Fund Hall inPhiladelphia, FATHER dynamically explained how Jesus won the complete victory through these characteristics, and it is our privilege to do the same by copying after the sample and the example He daily sets before us.  Thus would wars and strife of every kind be dispelled forever, for when nations as well as individuals become meek and lamblike, there will be no hatred, no malice or other detestable expressions to incite men to violence, and all will enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, for the earth will be a universal Utopia.

Savior of the world, we humbly thank Thee!

(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, and FATHER’S Message follows the composition sung just before HE rose to speak.)

SONG

                         “Behold the Lamb,

                          Behold the Lamb,

                          Behold the Lamb of GOD,

                          Behold the Lamb,

                          Behold the Lamb,

                          Behold the Lamb of GOD.”

FATHER DIVINE:

PEACE, EVERYONE!

Good Health, Good Will and a Good Appetite; Good Afternoon, Good Evening, Good Night and Good Morning again!  That little composition as you hear it sung, if you retrace your thoughts back to the Message just before the foundation of Christendom:

“Behold the Lamb of GOD, Who taketh

                          away the sins of the world.”

This composition was not so much at that time as a song, but as a Message to the children of men, requesting them to behold the Lamblikeness of GOD, it could have been said.

GOD in all of HIS Majesty, in all of HIS Dominion and all of HIS Authority, as bold as a lion but as harmless as a dove and as calm as a lamb.  HE came that mankind might behold HIM and observe the mystery of being emancipated from undesirable condition by the meekness and the lowliness of HIS Spirit.

Then I say, behold the Lamb and the Lamblikeness of GOD, it could have been the sins of the world!  When you behold such power, such authority and such a dominion, and yet in all simplicity, in meekness and lowliness of heart coming, you can see the mystery and the significance of being in the Lamblikeness, and in HIS Lamblikeness HE hides Majesty.  In Meekness and in Lamblikeness HE came!

Behold the Meekness of GOD

            What a privilege it is to observe the key to the mystery of your real emancipation ─ how you can be emancipated from the sin of the world, from all adverse and undesirable conditions by beholding the Lamblikeness of your Creator, the Lamb!  It could have been said:  “Behold the Meekness and the Simplicity of GOD ─ how GOD in Majesty, Dominion and Authority has truly come, but in Simplicity, in Meekness, in Lowliness of heart as a sample and as an example for the children of men, to show them how they can overcome.”  Aren’t you glad!

Then, it is a request to you, those of you that are seeking emancipation from sin, seeking your deliverance from undesirable conditions, seeking your freedom from misery, from lacks, wants and limitations:  “Behold the Lamblikeness, the Meekness, the Simplicity of your Savior, coming in Love, Mercy and Pity.”  When you behold such a likeness as in consideration and stressfully consider it, you produce and reproduce the nature and the characteristics of such likeness and put on the Christ Characteristics personally and manifest your Savior to creation.

When this is accomplished, you have tapped the Source of all supply.  You have tapped the Source of that never-failing Stream of GOD’S Infiniteness, of all of GOD’S Goodness, of all of GOD’S Love and of all of GOD’S Mercy; but all of this cometh through and by the Simplicity, Meekness and Lamblikeness of your GOD!  It does not come by, nor did I say for it to come by your thought concerning the Greatness of the Almighty, but in that simple spirit of Meekness, of Love and of Mercy, as requested ─

“Behold the Lamb of GOD.” 

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Father Divine’s message at the banquet table 20 West 115th street New York city on Sunday, February 21, 1937 at 3:15 p.m.

Part II

             As I said some time ago, I charge MYSELF with the magnetic current of GOD’S Infiniteness, and cause MY followers to concentrate on ME vividly. Through the transmission of the con­centration they are partakers of MY Nature and MY Characteristics. Therefore they will speak it and act it. I will preach Christ in Words; I AM preaching Christ in Words; but I AM preaching Christ more vividly in deeds and in actions by ,charging MY very Name with the magneticness of MY Infiniteness, causing you to concentrate on it vividly.  Through your vivid concentration, the transmission of the Spirit of it, and MY Characteristics, will be unto you.  Isn’t that Wonderful!

Men wonder and marvel at the mystery of the influence I have over the millions. It is because of concentration and because of the reproduction and the development and the unfoldment of the desirableness of the Infinite. When this shall have been established in any individual, that Infiniteness of the Infinite One when it is magnetically manifested in the individual it will attract others and draw them to it mentally as well as spiritually, and spiritually as well as mentally, and physically as well as mentally. Therefore they will come boldly, bodily to the Throne of Grace and they will harmonize with you in every­thing you do or say.

That is why you harmonize with ME; it is because of the current as transmitted from the magneticness of MY Infiniteness.  By your concentration the transmutation of MY Spirit it is transmitted to you and you are partakers of MY Nature automatically, and of MY Characteristics. Therefore you think it and act it, fulfilling MY Message as I have declared it, I will put MY Spirit in them and cause them to walk in MY Statutes. They are walking in MY Statutes daily.

Because I AM unifying them with ME by har­monization they are coming into the unification of Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose. By they bringing their bodies into subjection to ME and by living Evangelically they enjoy harmoniz­ing with ME. They enjoy it because through harmonization the transmutation of the Spirit is transmitted and they are partakers of it, and it fills them with enthusiasm, with joy, and Peace and happiness, it causes them to be successful, prosperous and happy, therefore they will not seek another.

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Father Divine’s message at the banquet table 20 west 115th street New York City Sunday, February 21, 1937 at 2:50 pm

PART I

 The remark is so often heard in the Orthodox Christian Churches, and even among the followers of Truth, “I cannot understand how GOD could have permitted so-and-so to die . . . she was as good a woman as ever lived,” or “he was as good a man as ever lived, and here am I, a sinner all my days, alive and healthy.”

However, in every case of physical death there is a mental and spiritual first cause, and always when the truth is known it will be found that the individual violated some of GOD’S Laws.  There is a well-known saying, “Appearances are deceiving,” and the Gospel declares, “He who confesseth his sins and forsaketh them shall have mercy but he who covers his sins shall not prosper.”

Dealing with this matter, F A T H E R spoke stressfully from the depths of HIS Omniscience in the presence of thousands at HIS New York City Headquarters, Sunday, February 21st. The most essential listener among the many visitors could recognize HIS Words as Spirit and as Life, as FATHER instructed HIS followers in the Way of Life, but to the true believers they were the Words of GOD Almighty HIMSELF in HIS Beautiful Bodily Form, that were heard as follows.

Thank you, Father!

FATHER speaks as follows:

PEACE, EVERYONEI Good Health, Good Will, and a Good Appetite; a heart full of Merriness, your bodies filled with enthusiasm, and your minds with the understanding of the Infinite one.

While sitting, I thought a little while ago how marvelous it is to get out of the world of the mortal versions of things. In the mortal versions you will find your enemies, and those ene­mies are of your own household.  It has long since been said, and I AM here to verify the same, “The worst enemy you have is that one of your own household.”

While sitting I thought how marvelous it is you all can rejoice and be filled with the Spirit of Enthusiasm over and above every mortal version, and shout in the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of GOD. But on the other hand, there are those who are unified together with the mortal mind and mortal connections, for selfishness, selfish fancies and selfish pleasures, for graft and greed and for other such selfish expressions — they cannot be in this place where we stand, above the mortal versions of the children of men, in that place where trials and tribulations cannot come.

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Father Divine grants interview to Mr. Calvin C. Rumph, University Student

In his private office study of the Peace Center & Nazareth Mission Home for the Aged, Church and Training school, Inc. of New York 13-17 W 128^th street New York City on Sunday afternoon July 23, 1950 at 4:45 p.m.

Mr. Rumph:  Peace, FATHER.

FATHER:  Peace.  What might be your name, please?

Mr. Rumph:  Calvin Rumph.  I am a university student here atColumbiaUniversityand I have been very deeply impressed by the work YOU are doing here in this City.  I had never seen YOU before I came to this city, and I would like for YOU to give me information as to how I might obtain information of the WORK YOU are doing of the Peace Mission.  I have been unable to obtain favorable information in the libraries, but I do have the Peace Mission paper of the Work YOU are doing, and I find The NEW DAY paper very current.  I have been trying to find material, but the material they have in the libraries of YOU and YOUR WORK is most unfavorable, so I thought maybe YOU could give me information as to YOUR WORK.

FATHER:  Did you ever read the Bible?

Mr. Rumph:  Yes, SIR, I read the Bible.

FATHER:  I know we are in a Gospel land and Bible country, and you are supposed to be scholastically inclined; in other words, studious yourself; it looks like you would read the Bible.  The Bible is MY Foundation.  You will get more from the King James version of the Bible of MY Teaching.

Mr. Rumph:  King James version of the Bible?

FATHER:  Yes, King James version of the Bible.

Mr. Rumph:  Very well, FATHER.

FATHER:  The English Bible.

Mr. Rumph:  Yes, FATHER.  The trouble is this, the paper— the research paper I am doing, it is required and in order to get approval for research paper, we have to get so many references.  Now I can get references from the Bible concerning YOUR Teaching and so forth, but I thought maybe some of the immediate followers may have written of some of the things YOU have done so I can refer to it in my paper.  YOU understand, the problem FATHER; for reference it is required that we have so many references to refer to, like magazines and papers; and there are some magazines in the library which are unfavorable, and I was told to ask YOU and YOU could give me some reference.

FATHER:  The different individuals may give their version, but without the right concept of the TRUTH, it profits little or nothing.

Mr. Rumph:  I understand that, FATHER.

FATHER:  There are many revised versions of the Bible; there are many different versions of individuals; some have given the version of GOD and depict GOD and describe GOD in their versions or version as a Spirit without bodily form, but incorruptible and undefiled; and some have described and depicted GOD as ONE WHO was made FLESH and dwelt among men!  The different versions of individuals do not say or show that it would be logical or profitable to the individual unless they can depict GOD the MOST PERFECT expression for the reproduction of the Nature and the Characteristics of GOD in their persons.

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