International Peace Mission Movement
by Kenneth E. Burnham
“At last a study that takes seriousely one of the most controvercial, important, and neglected religious leaders of the twentieth century – Father Divine, whom thousands believed to be God incarnate. Based on rare source materials, this readable account traces Father Divine’s career, spells out his theological position and economic message, and examines the role of a charismatic leader in a communal religious organization”
I would like to say to our visiting friends, hearers, and even followers who have not heard and known.. Do not know, whichever.. MY Actual Work and Mission among this people; I recall when men in this part of the country, New York City, in Baltimore, Maryland, Philadelphia and Washington… the northeastern part of this country, about thirty, forty and fifty years ago… they used to go around soliciting, begging and stealing on the streets; and I recall I rose up in such enthusiasm and such emotional expression, some thought, no doubt, I was somewhat unbalanced in mind.
I said, “I AM going south and prove to the world the Gospel
can be preached without money and without price!”
Every representative in the ecclesiastical world, even to the “stump-knockers,” “Bible-beaters” and street corner preachers, they all claimed that you were obliged to go around begging and stealing, in a way of speaking, to carry the Gospel.
I like the secretaries to hear anything that is good. As I often say to MOTHER, I like for Her and everybody— but especially I wouldn’t like for you to think, see or hear anything distasteful or undesirable, for that is what makes a person ugly; but to always be at a place in consciousness where you refuse to hear or notice anything undesirable by sight or hearing.
If you pay any attention to anything undesirable by the hearing of the ears or to know anything undesirable by knowledge—to pay any attention to, to smell anything undesirable by the sense of smell, all of those expressions of your five physical senses and your five mental senses can cause a person to express ugliness if they will allow such expressions to have access within them! You see the mystery? For the outward expression is but the manifestation of the mental and spiritual conception.
Circle mission Church, 722 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa
September 20th, 1952, 6:25 p.m.
Click to play: Honesty in being independent
Father Divine
Address by MOTHER DIVINE To The Sociology Students From The University of Pennsylvania Given at the Divine Tracy Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thursday, October 18, 1982 A.D. 37 F.D. Time 3 P.M.
Dr. Kephart, Professor of Social Studies at the University of Pennsylvania had been using a chapter on FATHER DIVINE in his book entitled “Extraordinary Groups” for his Social Studies class and desired that MOTHER DIVINE speak to the students Herself. MOTHER acceded to his request and spoke to a group of some thirty of these students. Many of the things She said were to correct or clarify what Dr. Kephart had written. Her Address is transcribed herewith.
