The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-08

red ribbon tied over her left ear.
 She smiled only once during the 90 minutes she sat at the table. Oc- casionally she murmured peace as one of the many speakers fin ished talking. She applauded each as he praised her husband, but for the most part she just sat with her chin cupped in the palm of her hand.
 She lowered over the pudgy Faith CT Devine by several inches as they rose from the table. She appeared to be about five feet, seven inches tall.
 Life Member Of Cult
 Although Father Divine told his followers little of the background of his bride, other than the fact that his spirit drew her from across the borders, from another country friends in Montreal said she was native of Vancouver, B.. C.. and had been a member of the cult all her life.
 Her parents, MT. and Mrs. Charles Ritchings, live in Kerrisdale, su- burban district of Vancouver. An uncle there said last night her par ents were too broken up to talk of their daughters marriage.
 He said Miss Ritchings was born and raised in Kerrisdale where her father is employed as a florist. She left home about year ago, he said. The Ritchings are middle class family of moderate means.
 She was known as Miss Angel in Father Divine's Montreal Heaven and the proprietor of the rooming house where she stayed said she had worked as a stenographer. Mem bers of the cult said she had left Montreal in April and they hadn't heard from her since. They were happy" to learn of her marriage to God"
 Mother Dead
 Father Divine told his flock of his marriage last Sunday during the regular service here. His first wife, known as Mother" among his fol- lowers, is dead He told his angels she approved of his taking a second mate.
 Trace your thoughts back to what mother said over and over again" he told them. She wants everybody to love me just as she does I cannot be bereaved."
 His young wife made a speech fol- lowing her introduction, saying:
 Peace, Father dear, peace, every one. At this time I would like to publicly thank father for this great blessing and honor of legally mar rying the lamb of God
 Blessed by Providence
 Previously, Father Divine had hinted at his marriage in an article in New Day, his newspaper, in which he assured his followers that the marriage had the blessing ot Providence.
 T say now that which was pre- dieted has come to pass he wrote, Jesus came through the virgin, and immaculate birth, according to the Christian religion.
 And why is it humanity cannot understand just as explicitly that it is essential for me to search the universe over to find virgin bride that would be pure and spotlesS as lamb that could be offered up to the church for the redemption of the world as I had established the church on the foundation and the conviction that I am the Christ.
 One came-the bride-the lambs bride-a spotless virgin bride. My spirit drew her from across the borders from another country .. :. Without my telling her; without my personal request for her to do so."
 Explains Own Position
 Father Divine - who has cau- tioned his angels against sex-was quick to explain in one of his church publications that there was nothing earthly in the marriage.
 His bride came to him, he said not because she thought was a good man or because she thought I would appease the human fancies tendencies and pleasures, but be- cause of the knowledge and recog- milton that she knows am God.
 Or as his bride put it.
 He condescends to take on that beautiful beautiful body to redeem our bodies that we might have life Isn't it beautiful to be in the pres ence of God himself?" tu,0 1-ora or-,-ioI Laty tho Ppv Albert L. Shadd, a Negro Baptist minister who by Father Divine own account had waited 40 years for the job.
 The marriage license was issued or April 25 to Major F. Divine and Miss Ritchings. Father Devine gave his age as Al.
 Actually, there is no record of his exact age. His biographers estimate he is T years old. His followers be- lieve he is immortal and age in the number of years as counted by mere mortals has nothing to do with him
 He is believed to have been born George Baker in South Carolina around 1875. He first appeared as a Evangelist in 1900 and 13 years later he billed himself as The Messen- ger He became Major Divine some time around 1919 and proclaimed himself God about 1882 when he first emerged into prominence among New York City's depression ridden Negroes.
 His slogan was peace, it's won- derful,' and he promised to provide for all.