FATHER DIVINE OF AMERICA

Southland Times, Issue 23650, 27 October 1938, Page 3

FATHER DIVINE OF AMERICA

“GOD ON EARTH” TO NEGROES VISIT TO HARLEM IN NEW YORK “The negroes in Harlem in New York look upon Father Divine as Christians look upon God.” This remark was made during a lecture to the Radiant Health Club last night by Mr Frank Pearse, of London, when referring to a visit to Harlem. The subject of his address was: “Radiant people I have met and their message.” Mrs A. H. Aldridge presided over a big attendance. “While I was in New York I was

invited by a friend on the staff of the Columbia University to accompany him on a day’s ramble to be made by the Rambling Club,” said Mr Pearse. “Seventy students took part in this ramble in the 'negro quarter of New York—Harlem. We left early in the morning and did not arrive back until after midnight.” The party first went to the Ethiopia Church, which had a membership of more than 3000 negroes, continued the speaker. They were the only white people present and found the service extremely interesting. The singing was very beautiful. A visit was then made to a meeting of the Pullman Union, which employs only negroes on its railway sleeping cars throughout America. The meeting was a special one to consider the grievances of the employees. The next visit was to the Y.M.C.A., which was a magnificent building, Mr

Pearse stated. There was a special concert being held and an outstanding address was given by a full-blooded negress. She said that the constitution of America stated that all people were equals. However, she explained that the negroes in America were not treated as equals. She described a test that she had made. Entering a highclass restaurant, she ordered a meal. The waiter took her order and then went over to the manager and spoke to him. The manager approached her and said that they did not serve negroes. She replied that it was against the law to do this, but he merely stated that he would prefer to pay a

fine than offend his clientele. “We then visited Father Divine in a hall which holds about 3000 people,” continued Mr Pearse. “There were rows of tables down both sides of the hall and at the top was Father Divine. Next to him was seated Sister Mary and another assistant. The hall was crowded and when we went in the negroes were singing. Some of the people were eating. The negroes danced whenever it was possible and when they could not _ dance they swayed. Many of them fainted and fell on the floor, but nobody ventured to pick them up. Some of the negroes lay there for about an hour. “The kitchen was behind Father Divine and it was very interesting to notice that every dish that came from the kitchen was blessed by him,” the speaker added. “I have attended many I banquets but none so sumptuous as Father Divine’s. He realized that when they were in slavery the negroes were on very sparse diets and that he could not appeal to them more than by giving them a free meal. The eating lasted for about two hours and after it had finished Father Divine rose and spoke. He is a broad, well-built man and reminded me of a Hebrew prophet. I admired very much his straight and candid manner of speaking.” Although the negroes looked on him as the Christians looked on God Father Divine would not accept that and stated that he was not God, but that God spoke through him, Mr Pearse said. “When one of the clergymen of the party returned thanks to Father Divine he alluded to him as to another- man. He was quite respectful, but spoke to him as he would to any other person. Some of the negresses got very excited about this and one yelled out: ‘He does not know, he does not know.’ Several of them becam.j very excited and fainted. Of course the negroes regard him as God upon earth.” Mr Pearse also referred to many

other outstanding personalities he had met, including Cecil Rhodes, Bernard McFadden and John D. Rockefeller. He also described the work done by Mrs Phoebe Holmes, who toured New Zealand when she was 74 and founded Radiant Health Clubs throughout the Dominion.

He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for Jus interesting talk.