NEGRO THREAT

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1946, Page 5

NEGRO THREAT

“FATHER DIVINE’ 7 Might “Turn Followers Loose’ 7 (Rec. 9.50). NEW YORK, August 12. “Father Divine”, the Negro sect leader, has returned to his Harlem “Heaven” with his white bride. Five hundred followers’ accompanied him. “Father Divine” lectured newspaper representatives on what he termed the vulgarity and distortion with which they had reported and photographed his recent wedding, states the Associated Press. He warned the newspapers that they were interfering with his mission. If distortions did not end, he would withhold his prohibition powers 1 , and his followers might commit crimes', as they used to do. Pie did not want to turn his followers loose, though it would not necessarily be a race riot, because his followers represented many races. “Father Divine” declared that for ten to twelve years he had saved New York City almost three million dollars' annually by taking thousands off the city relief rolls, many of whom, he said, he had' purged of smoking, profanity, vulgarity, and obsenity. They became his true followers.

His young bride objected to some of the pictures published of their wedding, saying that it was not necessary to show him so black, and show her so white. The difference was not that great.