The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-30
HARLEM GODS
INCOME SOURCE
DEEP MYSTERY
Father Divine Spends Thou
sands Weekly; Even
j. S. Is Baffled.
(Continued From Page One)


a small bill" he related. The bank
teller invariably checks the num-
Der and examines the bill with ut
most care to make certain 1t Is not
counterfeit"
No collections ever are taken at
Father Divine's meetings. All do
nations that come by mail, Brother
Lamb" said, are promptly returned.
But there is another side to the
story.
A Metropolitan Life Insurance
man, testifying before a committee
that had been appointed in Newark
to investigate the inexplicable little
Negro in December, 1888, asserted
that many a follower had turned
in his insurance policy for cash.
Still another witness testified that
you automatically became an angel
when you turn over everything and
advance it to the kingdom"
Angels" are the disciples who
live in the kingdoms. They usually
drop their mortal names and take
on such titles as Faithful Mary"
Faith Grace" Satisfied Love"
True Love-" Bouquet" and
Peaceful"
They assume the names that best
express the nature" Brother Lamb
explained.
"Where was Father Divine born?"
he was asked.
'Born?" the secretary asked
ENORMOUSLY. mo one knows when or
where"
Father Divine himself will reveal
nothing of his life prior to ID years
ago when he settled in Sayville, L..
I. It is believed he was born George
Baker on an island of the coast OF
Georgia, about 1892.
Kingdoms Are Extended
He first operated an employment
bureau at Sayville. Then he began
to evangelize a following of Negroes
and whites. Soon as many as 2OOO
visitors a day flocked to hear his
message" Within the last few
years he has extended his king
doms" to all parts of the country,
including Los Angeles, Santa Cruz,
San Jose and Long Beach, Cal;
Colorado Springs, Colo; Pittsburgh,
Philadelphia, Columbus, Cleveland
and Cincinnati, o.
His followers accept what the
Newark investigating committee re-
ported to the district attorney as
certain social, biological and eco
nomic fallacies," including:
They will live everlastingly on
earth; they need have no worry
about the vicissitudes of old age and
sexual relationship in married life
is unnecessary.
In connection with the latter,
many husbands and wives, who wish
to live in Christ" have given up
their homes and taken up residence
in Father Divine's kingdoms. But
they occupy different dormitories.
For their home and board they pay
81 a week.
Merchants Invite Trade
The scope of the Rev. Divine'S
(his calling card refers to him as
''Reverend'O influence has been re-
cognized by many Harlem mer-
chants. AS an example, placards
such as these appear in many win
dowS:
"Peace-slips made to order"
'Peace-come and dine. Restaur-
ant run in Fathers spirit and
mind"
"Peace-six rooms to rent. Hot
water"
Politicians, too, have realized the
value of an entente cordiale with
Father Divine, who has organized
his Harlem flock into a powerful
bloc of voters. He has threatened
to use this bloc if corruption and
vice and sin" is not eradicated in
New York City.
There is a reminder of civic duty
on the dais of Heaven No l" audi
forum. Standing next to a placard
proclaiming that Father Divine is
the dean of the universe" is a sign
reading:
"22nd Assembly District Register
and vote"