The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-19
GIVE MONEY
TO GOVERNMENT

|
unique 10 most patriotic citizens. for |
they are making direct gifts 10 the |
Y. S. Treasury. Pick up any issue |
OF the New Day" and you Will see
letters from the Treasury Depart
ment acknowledging receipt OF cash |
and endorsed bonds from Divine |
followers who seldom fail TO add |
the foot note this is cur country, |
we insist upon sharing all its privi-
leges and responsibilities alike"
His followers do not accept gifts
or take tips for their services, but
are schooled In the thought Of Civ
ing - much service In return for
n little money ~ possible. A white
woman Tor whom one Of his won-
en- followers worked wrote Father
Divine that she tust couldn't under
stand q person who would accept
q Christmas gift Many others wrote
similar letters, and asked for fur
Their information on the Divine
movement
IN PROFITABLE
BUSINESSES
There is no idleness among his
followers. and il is matter of rec
ord that he kept thousands of the
relief rolls in New York during the
height of the depression. Consider
ing him Religious crack pot" one
would be blinded to the obvious
fact that he is a shrewd, but fair.
business man whose many followers
are engaged in profitable enterprise.
The hundreds Of restaurants,
stores. rooming houses, dry clean
ing and other service businesses
operate at a profit even though the
prices Of his followers are more
than 80 per cent below the prices
OF others in the same given field
None OF these businesses, was
told by one Of his attorneys. are in
Father Divine's own name. nor can
any OF his adult followers claim
ownership TO them. All businesses
operated by Divine followers are
owned by the children in his move
ment Each child. upon reaching the
age Of IL. is given a business Of his
or her own. 10 be handed down to
another child OF the same age when
the present owner reaches the age
OF 30.
1t is significant TO note that prop
erty owned by the Divine followers
Is usually kept up better than other
| properties in the community. And
a careful check Of any Divine prop
erty will reveal that he invests only
in the best
FREE BANQUETS
SERVED
Before leaving Philadelphia we
attended one Of Father Divine's
nightly banquets served at his
headquarters. These bsnquets are
free and he serves three from mid
night 10 6 am. Meals in Divine
restaurants never cost more than
l5c-chicken, pork. beef. lamb. etc)
One hundred and twenty guests
were seated at the main banquet
table, and an additional 80 found
seats at an auxiliary table.
The table was covered with spot
lessly white linen. with red. white,
and blue v decorations running the
full length. Large plates OF choco-
late covered minis and plates OF
delicate cakes and cookies were
plentiful Huge bowls Of roses and
carnations were placed in the GEN.
ter about every ten feet of the ban.
quet table.
Meals were served on uniform
China set Of 40 pieces, and the sill.
yer used at the banquet Is said &c
be some Of the most expensive in
Philadelphia. Father Divine began
serving his guests by passing 1:
vegetables, 10 meat and two fish
courses. q half dozen relishes. sever
salads and nine desserts. There wa.
no praying and no long speeches
Father Divine himself does very
little talking at these banquets. bu
gives the time 10 visitors who ma,
speak whatever comes TO theil
minds. We left with the feeling tina
II Is at this banquet table that new
followers are recruited, for IN,
seeming abundance. the content
ment OF the followers and demo
cratic way In which they mingl
together leaves little to be said
Father Divine's only speech at tn
banquet was less than three min
utes long. He ended II by sayin
I'm going to see TO IL that tn
slums Of Philadelphia are cleane
UP so that every citizen will hav
decent place to live" And IN
Judge sitting next 10 me said Il d
not doubt him In the least