The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-29
HE'S GOD!' is
FANATICAL CRY
OF THOUSANDS
Father Divine, Diminutive
Negro Operator of 27
Heavens
CONTINUED From Page One)

some one shouted. The -.r was
taken up and relayed into the build
ing. About 1000 men. women and
children, Of which approximately
500 were white, awaited his coming
Bald, stocky, four feet. six inches.
with short, scrubby, gray-sprinkled
black mustache, wearing a gray,
pin-striped sack suit, Father Divine
looked the average prosperous Har-
lem businessman. Yet he is one of
the most mysterious figures in New
York. He feeds and cares for
thousands of persons but nobody
including state officers-haS learned
the source of his income.
500 Get Free Food
When the correspondent was in
troduced, Father Divine, stifny
formal, expressed regret that he had
stopped giving interviews"
But my works speak for them
selves; so join us at our banquet"
The banquet table was in base
ment hall. Walls were covered with
placards: "rhe relaxation of your
conscious mentality is but the re-
conception of Gods intelligence. "
God is living in Father Divine. .
The board was set with baskets Of
fruit and candy.
More than 500 men, women and
children sat at the table. At least
that many more stood around the
walls or sat in the rectangular
center space formed by the table.
When the little, black Messiah"
entered, hysteria came with him.
ooh Father, our Savior, 1 love
you" a brunette white girl chanted
fervently.
Father Divine sat in a satin
backed chair at the head Of the
table. Every course passed through
his hands. He filled the coffee cups
from large aluminium urns which a
whitehead, thin-faced white girl
handed him. The girl murmured a
hymn to Father Divine as she
worked.
40 Courses on Menue
This was part of the menu.
Rice, baked hominy, mashed po-
tatoes, cabbage, collard greens,
spinach, creamed cauli1ower,
squash, string beans, sweet potatoes,
asparagus tips, ham and eggs,
tongue, pork trotters (pig legs), pork
shoots, pork listeners (pig ears)
pork wigglers (pig tails), hot Sau-
sages, beefstew, fricasee chick
en-, turkey, roast beef, broken
white and raisin bread and pumpkin
pie. There were as courses.
Brother Lamb" explain d.:
There is nothing unusual about
this. The Father provides banquets
equally as good and sometimes bet
ter, twice a day."
And it is free to all who follow
him. Nobody pays a cent.
Testify in Songs, Poetry
While Father Divine ate his ham
and eggs, from all parts Of the hall
converts" rose to testify" One
sang her testimony to the air of a
NTassenet operate aria. Another re-
cited her faith in poem. Directly
in front of Father Divine knelt
three young NegresseS and a tall
blond white woman. They stared
silently worshipfully at him for fully
two hours.
During the testimonials, some of
the followers shouted words of
alteration and faith at the little
man. His bland face failed to re-
veal any reaction. Others writhed
and twisted in ecstasy.
When the last of the testimonials
had been delivered, Father Divine
rose and gave his message in loud,
high pitched voice. His words were
carried through a nicrophone into
loudspeaker system in the audi
forum on the floor above, where
nearly 1000 Negro and White list
eners worked themselves into a
state of quasi-delirium.
Next-Father Divine'S explanation
for the mysterious source of his in