The Omaha guide., 1935-12-28
KELLY MILLER
SAYS
A BLACKaGOD=

proclaimed himself as God incarn-
ate in the flesh. There he soon
gathered around him a group of
adherents and disciples who ae-
cepted him at his own self ap-
praisment and who lived by every
word which proceeded from h S
mouth. There have been many
prophets in the history of relig-
ion who claimed inspiration from
on "High." The founders of new
religious cults abound among all
peoples in all lands and at all
times. They are most apt to ap-
pear at the break down of exist
ing regime and among people who
r downcast and heavy laden.
Where they find little hope in low
grounds of sorrow in the world
which is here and now, they glad
ly seek escape in the promised
land beyond the skies. They are
easily persuaded to follow any
leader, genuine or guileful, who
claims to have heard the heavenly
voice and caught the heavenly WIS.,
ion.
Among the Negro people the
appearance of such spiritual re-
formers as the late prophet
Crowdy, Father Divine, and Elder
Michaux show plainly a religious
restlessness and dissatisfaction
with the regular orthodox church.
es which r sadly failing to meet
the spiritual needs of the masses
The holiness meetings and store
front churches are both a chal-
lenge and a warning to our re-
ligious leaders that their mis-
sion is to reach and to save, even
unto the utmost. Failing to do
this, they need not be surprised
that these new spiritual move
ments are springing up all over
the country.
The Dec. 18th issue of the
Christian Century contains an in
teresting analysis of Father Di-
vine and his method by an under
standing and sympathetic student
of religious phenomena who, like
the curious visitor to the church
of the Village Parson, came to see
but remained to pray. Father Di-
vine and the ardent disciples
which he has gathered about him,
represent a culture lag in the his
tory of religion and take US back
to the childhood stage when the
human race was nearer the level
of primitivity. 1t is true that
Father Divine and his flock seem
picturesque and bizzare and strike
many onlookers as merely a bur-
lesque of religion, but this grows
out of the fact that the setting
is entirely out of harmony with
the time, place and circumstances.
This anarchronous e
would seem to be more fitting in
the heart of Africa than in the
heart of Harlem. Instincts, among
which religious feeling takes first
rank, are imbedded in t sub
stratem of human nature. The
lower down we go, the easier it is
stirred. For this reason, religion
is always more ardently mani
tested among the meek and low
ly than among the high and
mighty. Father Divine and his
flock represent an interesting la
boratory for the observation of
religion in the making. They op-
crate on the psychological level
not far above that of primitive
man. Father Divine himself may
be self-deluded in his divine pre-
sumption; but this does not neces-
sarily vitiate his genuineness and
sincerity. For prophets and spir-
itual leaders of all times have
been considered "God-mad." It
was said of the Savior himself
that "The zeal of thy house has
eaten thee up"
Only those of shallow under
standing and littleness of soul will
look upon Father Divine and his
movements with derision and
scorn. He merely gives US a pic
ture of a stage in the history of
religious evolution.
A new religious dispensation
always appeals to those who are
weary and heavy laden, who look
for a leader who will give them
rest. 1t is precisely at this level
of culture and among this type of
people, that religious manifestat-
tions are most apt to originate.
This is not a question of race but
of evolution. Father Divine has
r,-L;4o a.. xv,oIl n More oJIoropt-