The Omaha guide., 1933-12-23

w. Hardy, a lawyer. Mr.. Bamberger
did not sign the report because he
was unable to attend the committee
meetings."
In accepting the report, Judge
Hartshorne said that he would take
no action against the cult, but would
leave the facts in the hands of the
public and the prosecuting authirities.
He quoted Abraham Lincoln's aphor-
ism about fooling all Of the people all
of the time.
Preacher Small But Eloquent
"While the report shows that the
cult is misleading a substantial num-
Der of credulous people," the judge
said, "The some Of the people who
continue tx be fooled after the publ
cation of this report will have only
themselves to blame if they suffer-"
Divine is only four feet six inches
tall, but he has a tongue which can
move multitudes. The committee
traces his work from the time when
he began in Sayville, operating an
employment agency which did a legi-
innate business among Negroes and
grew into a home for his cult. Then
the police drove him out of town
after Judge Lewis j. Smith, of Suf-
folk County Court, had sentenced
him to a year in jail and a $500 fine
for maintaining a nuisance. The
clapping of hands, stamping Of feet
and vocal hullabaloo had annoyed the
neighbors.
He had a similar experience in Or
ange and in Newark, and now is OPP
Grating kingdom" of his W at 81
West both Street, New York, but
two Newark kingdoms r running,
one at 81 Bedford Street, under
faithful Mary" who in private life
is Miss Viola Wilson, and one at I'm
ion Temple, Wickliffe and School
Streets, under Bishop John Selk-
ridge.
All Are Angels In The Cult
In these kingdoms live men, wo
men and children Of the cult, all Of
whom are angels" in Divine's cos
mos. AS far as the committee could
determine, the angelic condition de-
pended on the surrender by the can
didate of all his worldly goods. The
furniture in the kingdoms apparent
ly was donated by the neophytes and
the committee heard witnesses who
said they had contributed cash to
feed Divine and the faithful. Each
angel has a given name, of which
Faithful, True Love, Peaceful and
Bouquet are samples.
Besides living, eating and sleeping
in the kingdoms the diciples attend
services from 10 a. m. to 10 p. IN.
each day, at which they give testi-
monials of the blessings they have
received and worship in an endless
antiphonal Of peace, It's Wonder
full" Much of the worship, the COM
mittee said, is of Divine. When the
committee went to q couple Of SER
vices the windows were closed because
it was cold, but the members remark
ed that in fine weather, with open
windows, it was not surprising that
the neighbors complained.
INDECENT Are Fed Free
According to members Of the cult,
the operating expenses-the bill IN
New York alone was said to be $780,
600 a year-are met by receipts from
the sale Of meals at Is cents each and
the sale of candy, soft drinks and
various refreshments. The INDECENT
are fed free. Once Divine, with a
pocket full of money, appeared IN
court and said that God had given It
to him. The committee noted, how
ever, that he owned an airplane and
several automobiles, including a
Packard with a chauffeur, which car
ried him between New Yark and Ne
wark.
at is apparent from these signs OF
affluence that Major ]. Divine has
prospered during the five years since
he began to operate a small employ
ment bureau in the town Of Sayvllle'
Long Island" the committee re
marked.
There was no doubt, according to
the committee, that the cult a done
uyU;trocc of+nr Witness"