St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-08-16
Divine Explains
His Marriage to
Faithful Flock


Father Divine visited his Newark
branch Heaven" last Thursday
night and explained to his curious
but faithful followers how he hap
pened TO marry Miss Edna Rose
RitchingB, 21-year-old white girl
from Vancouver, British Columbia.
The ceremony was performed
last April 20 in Washington, d. c.,
but the marriage did not become
known until last week because the
license was taken out in the name
Of Major J. Divine, his real name.
The cult leader, accompanied by
his blond bride, was given a tumult-
uous reception by 1900 faithful
followers at q holy Communion
Banquet" in Peach Church, Inc, at
l26 Howard street.
Calling the union a marriage in
name only" Divine said IL had the
approval Of Mother Divine, his
first wife, who is dead, and twas
a reproduction Of the spirit Of
Mother Divine and a reincarnation
Of her spirit In the body Of Miss
RitchinRs."
Divine, who Is 70, said his mar
rage was not q mortal one DE
cause there Is no marriage, no NOR
tai marriage In the Kingdom" Il
was 4 spiritual union, the cultist
continued, and was not based on
human affection, self-indulgence,
sex-indulgence, lust, passion and
all Of those detestable tendencies"
Throughout an interview in Di-
vines second floor private Office
adjacent to the banquet hall, Mrs.
Divine sat next to her husband
but did not speak. She wore a
black and white silk jersey print
dress and black leather belt with
butterfly buckle. She also wore a
plain gold wedding band and two
diamond rings. There was a
slave" bracelet on one wrist and
q wrist watch on the other. A
pearl necklace encircled her neck
and an imitation gardenia adorned
her hair.
Only after she began posing
with her husband for photogra-
piers and one Of them asked the
couple to join hands did she smile.
Later she related how she be-
came interested in the cult while
still . school girl in Vancouver and
began corresponding with Divine
at his Philadelphia residence. She
moved later to Montreal and in
July, l946, went TO Philadelphia,
where she became one Of Divine's
secretaries.
The majority Of Divine's follow
ers, who gathered as early as
5 p. m. at the church, approved
the marriage, but a few angels"
opposed II.
Father Divine breaches for his
followers not to marry and then
he goes against his own teaching, )"
one angel" declared. How can
you believe in u man such as
that?"
He said, however, that he would
not drop out Of the church because
Of the marriage.
But the majority seemed to think
Divine was immune" and accepted
the marriage without question.
As the big green limousine with
Divine and Mrs. Divine rolled into
view at sos p. m. the crowd
gathered around the car. Several
jumped on the running board ant
tried to touch the cult leader IN
the car. Those In the church
crowded at the windows trying &c
get a view Of the couple.
As the smiling Divine stepped
out Of his car with his bride fol,
lowing, the crowd opened lane for
them. They went to Divine's pri.
vate office.
The crowd followed them and the
stairs were jammed with people
pushing and singing.
One woman, affected by the heat
Of the hall, tried TO fight her way
down the stairs, but she said
full"
1t was after 10 p. m. when Divine
emerged with his wife from the
office. A lane was opened for the
couple and his encourage Of Is
secretaries to the main table.
Over the head table was this sign
In red and blue neon lights: Gods
Holy Communion Table" Directly
in front Of Divine's chair a mirror
rested in the middle Of q huge fan
shaped display Of silverware. A
gold bell was nearby.
Divine explained that all food
was served from the main table
and by followers the food was con-
sidered Holy Communion. To nom
followers, II was Just a sumptuous
meal. The menu consisted Of chick
en- and pork and lamb chops as en-
trees Of full-eourse dinner.
Divine pointed out that the meal
was not unusual and that Il was
like those served on the regular
Thursday communion nights.
Edna, now known as HSweet
Angel" Is the daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles RitehinRs, Of Van
cOuVeF Her fafhap 4 a 49,