The Testimony of Brother Walter Lanyon

"What Went Ye Out for to See - A Man ?"

Can you imagine the excitement that reigned in the little town of Samaria when the woman returned from the well and said:

"Come and see a man, which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ ?"

"Come ! see a man who is doing the works of the Master; is healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, supplying food, shelter and raiment freely; has no new creed, no new system, or church to found. Yes, all this right here in our present day; in this materialistic age; right on the very doorstep of the hub of the universe - New York."

And so they came in great waves; came to see, to hear and to partake. A thousand gradations of human thought rushed in to "have a look." A thousand gradations of human thought rushed away to place its interpretation on what it had experienced.

Hundreds daily sat down to a banquet that would have caused the average Continental chef endless planning and trouble. Banquets followed one after the other without the slightest stir or confusion. The only confusion that existed in the household was that which was brought there by the onlookers. Miracle followed miracle, and all wondered.

"Everyman" had on a thousand robes - he was playing every part. There was the little "Everyman" who at once understood everything that Father said, and spent the time setting everybody right. There was the cunning "Everyman" who lay low and watched, and checked against everything to see if she could explain that it would have happened anyway. She was protecting the weak sisters and brothers, who might be misled. There must have been some such a person at the arm of Jesus when he was feeding the multitudes, peeping down his sleeves to see if there were not flour and water, hidden there out of which he made the bread he was giving the hungry.

There was "Everyman" who had proved the power for herself, and knew Whereof she spoke, who went out to see what it was all about; hadn't she been able to demonstrate the power .... hadn't she been able to always make the "street-car" be at the corner the moment she arrived ?

Aren't we funny ? Surely you are going to say yes ! to that ? We are eternally looking for the way out of the human dilemma, and the moment anything comes along that looks as though it were a possible way of escape, we immediately want to make it conform to the laws of the human mind. We are all the same in this respect. We are "Everyman," and it is not with any malice or criticism that I list the various specimens that followed the exciting invitation, "Come and see a man." Most of us go out with exactly that idea in mind - we "Come to see the MAN."

How very disappointing. The man may look like anything. He may belong to any race - he may not conform to any of the idea., you have had in mind. I suppose a Chinaman would like to see a Confucius, and Hindu would be looking for a Buddha, and so on. When we go out to see a MAN We usually see a MAN, and we disobey the teaching of the Master "What went ye out for to see? A man?"

The looms of human conversation, imagination, exaggeration, ran back and forth - words, words, words - repeated, enlarged, stretched beyond all recognition, flew back and forth, weaving a flimsy fabric of fantasy, as a great army of talkers started in the age-old habit of building the Tower of Babel. All talking the same language at first, but presently no two of them speaking in the same tongue. And the only note of harmony that kept breaking through the whole mass of human talk was the startling and glorious word of the Father," It is WONDERFUL."

And so the Tower fell, and great was the fall thereof.

"I AM the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord."

But it seemed at first as though "The zeal of thine house has eaten me up." The confusion and excitement of having seen a sign or having heard of someone who had seen sign, ate up the "omer of Manna", and one was left alone in the desert of confusion; alone in a wilderness of opinions and beliefs.

And only the glorious word remained, "It is WONDERFUL."

The first great wave broke on the sands , and left behind it a rare collection of things from the deep.

"There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walketh not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

And the first and glorious word Sounded a hundred per cent like Jesus' words: "Blessings, blessings, blessings, so many you cannot count them, to you, to me, to everybody ; To all those who have misunderstood and misinterpreted the Words Spoken here. It is wonderful . Nothing has happened but my Love has allowed."

Day after day the Father sat and dispensed the glorious knowledge of the Kingdom as Here and Now, and spoke of the power of the I AM, and time after time he explained that the I AM was Universal and Infinite, and that all had the right to enjoy it.

"It is not necessary that you see Me personally, for I AM here, I AM there, I AM everywhere. I AM a present help. I do not give absent treatments, for I A M everywhere.

You do not need to follow Me personally, but if you are going to go away from here, claiming that God is everywhere, and then follow after another Man or teaching, I say it is better for you to follow Me."

Regardless of how many times Father made it plain that the I AM was Universal - here, there and everywhere, it seemed to be necessary to make this explanation every time the I AM was mentioned, or else "Everyman" took offense and reiterated the age-old saying, "He made himself as God."

Why should He not make himself as God, if He were made by God and moulded out of the substance of God, in the image and likeness of God ? Is there anything strange in that? Yes, there is the strange hypnotism of the human thought that is struggling to free itself, and at the same time trying to lug into the new heaven all its former baggage.

"Only believe and thou shalt be saved" is entirely too simple. The wise "Everyman" cannot bow to such simplicity.

And so the tales of "Everyman" ran wild.

When Father therefore said : " I will keep your souls, and even if your bodies leave Me I shall hold your souls and you will have to return to Me, "Everyman" got afraid - he heard something personal and imagined that he was being held against his will. He did not stop for a moment to realize that the Voice through the Ages had spoken the same words. Your Soul has always been with God, and your body has been wandering through the desert of human thinking. What is so strange about the fact that that which is born of Spirit is Spirit, and dwells eternally with the Spirit, and what is so strange in the statement, and the promise that the Prodigal Everyman" shall return to his Father's house?

The great power of keeping the personal separate from the Impersonal was not used, and "Everyman" actually imagined that Father wanted to hold them against their will. Had they stopped for one moment to ask themselves WHY ? they would have seen how ridiculous this piece of imagination was. Father Divine, who asked nothing of any man, and gave all, could fill any place he entered with people who were willing and ready to follow after the glorious Impersonal teaching of the Christ. He had no need to hold on to a few souls. Isn't it wonderful when you think of it. He asked nothing of anybody and gave all. Doesn't it sound like the wonderful way of Jesus. He asked nothing and offered all.

"Everyman" came with the story that all their life they had wanted to have the time to learn of this glorious truth, but the question of earning a daily living was always in the way, and Father so graciously and beautifully said to these, "Come, eat and drink without price." Just what they had they wanted? But was this what they had wanted? Yes, with reservations. No sooner had they entered into this new order of things than the discipline and order that was necessary began to bother them. "I think it should be done this way or that way or some other way from what it is being done." Aren't we funny? You and I ? Did we ever hear the word "Patience must have her perfect work " - yes, we have heard it, but before it has time to work we are going to help it along with a few personal ideas. And so "Everyman" began to find all sorts of faults and conditions that he would change.

One little "Everyman," who had no-one or nothing to be separated from, complained that Father was separating people ! that he advocated leaving all relations, etc. "Let the dead bury their dead, follow thou Me," is but the slightest request of the Master, whom this little "Everyman" believed in emphatically. It was but a reiteration of the teaching of Jesus, when he said that a man having seen the Light would leave, family, houses, lands, all and follow after that Light. Yet somehow that did not count - Jesus was after all an historical character, and his teaching was to be taken with reservations.

Yes, '"Everyman" is in reality afraid of the very thing he is seeking, because it begins to set aside all the cherished beliefs of his existence. Yet why is it we reiterate the words of Jesus over and over: "' The works that I do ye shall do also and even greater." Do you begin to see that he who travels alone travels far ? Isn't it wonderful ?

People who went to Father's and enjoyed free board and room for months, came away saying that he had placed a curse upon them, and that he was breaking up homes and families, and this was especially strange since these very persons had neither home nor family to be broken up. When the human mind cannot have its way, it will try anything to get into the limelight again. But all the time Father smiled pleasantly and said, "Bless them." What a blessing it must have been!

Hundreds of people partook of the wonderful banquets at Father's freely, partook of the instructions freely, partook of lodging freely, and then imagined that they were being coerced into following after Father. And all the time Father gave freely, and showed them that which he said he would show, "the miracle of the loaves and the fishes." And those that had eyes saw and understood, and knew that at last the Truth had come within the vision of our day.

The very people who glory in the stories of Daniel in the Lion's Den, and the disciples in prison, were the first to broadcast, with "childlike" simplicity and hidden wiseness, Father Divine is in jail, I can not understand it." Yet these very souls imagine that they would have been the faithful attendants, waiting outside the prison-house to serve the disciples. Do you suppose there was any more worldly honour attached to going to jail then, than now ?

"Nothing has happened but my love allows," said Father, as he submitted to the human law, in order that he could give a further concrete proof of the power to those who needed a further sign.

The proof was given, and in spite of all the efforts of the human mind, the doors sprang open and another legend had become a fact. Isn't it wonderful.

"Awake thou that sleepest and Christ shall give thee Light."

A little"Everyman, who was especially fond of saying "All things are possible to God," came to me saying"Yes, but how could Father produce money - it would not be lawful." And then with the wisdom of human ages twinkling in his eye, he added: "You see, there would be the serial number of the notes to be taken care of." You see there would always be serial numbers to be taken care of for that human state of consciousness, and yet he kept on repeating, "Yes, all things are possible to God " - but evidently there were some things that were not possible. Do you hear, do you see ? You who READ this line? "I have a way you know not of." Has man, then, found something that God cannot do ? You answer for yourself.

When the old King in the Bible was told that he must be born again, he answered the same thing: "Yes, but what about the serial number" only he said, "Impossible, I cannot go through that re-borning process." And so we find something else that God cannot do - and if we do not watch out, we will find that God cannot do anything, except what we can conceive of as possible for him to do. Isn't it wonderful ?

The very idea of being born again would upset all the human laws about birth. Yea, that is just what the coming into contact with the Divine Law does, it upsets the human law and its way of thinking. Aren't you glad ? "I shall overturn and overturn and overturn until He comes whose place it is to rule." What are you going to do about it ? I think you had better be glad that there is something that can upset the old false standards and beliefs.

And so a lot of funny little souls who are like chameleons, in that they take on others thoughts, imagined they had been hurt by Father Divine, and people who had not been invited, or asked to come to his home, seemed to think they had missed the chance of going, and should accordingly be recompensed for having decided to go. And a great law was shown forth, and many were caught in the trap of not only accepting evil as real, but also assisting in passing on that which had been merely hear-say. It must have been difficult, after trying with such faithfulness to make evil real, to say in prayer "there is no evil." Watch - Watch - Watch"

"Untouched in any way by all the talk," Father's work grew by leaps and bounds. New impetus having been given to it by the glorious proof of the Power. The weak sisters had fallen by the way, and made the ground ready for the souls that were prepared for the meat. Many a babe on a milk diet found the meat too strong, and retired to cut his teeth on something less solid. Isn't it wonderful ?

"They laid every charge against him," sounds like Scriptural language, but it is twentieth century journalism. "Everyman" came after a lifetime of mis-thinking - stumbling and falling on the way, seeking only the loaves and fishes, and when he found none, went stumbling away again, charging his broken-down condition to the teachings of Father.

One little "Everyman" told me she had established a Retreat, where the broken-down souls that had been hurt and torn by Father could find refuge and peace - yes, a place where the driftwood that had been broken on the sea of life might float in. I wonder what will be done with some of the funny little shells and bits that float on the tide from One beach to another ?

I suppose Jesus was blamed for the murder of all the babies that Herod caused to be destroyed, since the announcement of his birth was the cause of their death ? Isn't it wonderful. You and "Everyman " - are beginning to see a little, to recognize the falseness of the character with which we have been associated. We profess the Christ and go into ecstasies over His miracles, and yet we are so often caught trying to "slip up on Him," as it were.

Beloved ! you can "slip up on Him" any time, and you will not find Him wanting - the glorious Impersonal Power that has come to us again has come through the avenue that was most fit and ready to express it. It is wonderful ?

The sport of the human mind is to make a Jesus and then crucify him. And the strange part about those who partake in the crucifixion is that they always come away from their ignoble work exclaiming that they are the ones that have been hurt.

One "Everyman," who ran about saying that she "had given up everything to go to Father's, and now she had nothing," had asked me to pray for her, three months before, in order that she would not be dispossessed of her apartment.

Another "Everyman," who ran about exploiting Father at one time, later ran about saying in her most sanctimonious tones: "I hope no one is going to ask me about Father Divine " - letting those who heard draw their own conclusions.

The Romans had finally had their holiday, and after the noise and smoke of human opinion had cleared away, they found that the "sacrifice" had escaped them, and that the glorious echo of the Voice was still in evidence, and the undying word, "It is WONDERFUL," still echoing in the land.

And so the command, "What went ye out for to see, a man or a principle ?" was again asked and the answer of the masses was "A principle." And those who have been looking for a principle, have found a principle that is again showing forth the works that it came to show forth, and making it gloriously possible for us to enter into the New Day of realization. Kipling has said it was the, disciples and followers of Jesus that crucified him, and not the mad mob as was supposed And so it is - but what must be the feeling of those who imagined they were destroying a Messiah, to find that He had moved "untouched" through their hands ? And what must have been the amazement to find that He was still blessing them and breaking the bread for them. It is wonderful !

"What went ye out to see, a man or principle ?"

The glorious revelations of Father that have attracted even greater and greater masses of people than before, are put in the simple impersonal language that a child could understand, but the "Everyman" who wishes to distort their meaning will find the same old human equation in evidence.

Father is teaching the Here and Now of the Spiritual Universe. He is teaching the possibility of instantaneously entering into the Heritage of the Son of the Living God. He is teaching the blessings unlimited. He is teaching the one-ness of Jesus-Christ, the word made flesh. He is teaching the abundance and fullness of all that is needful - without price. He is teaching. It Is Wonderful.

"The abundance of the fullness of the consciousness of Good - no space is vacant of the fullness thereof."

"You must live in accordance with the teachings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."

"You must call no man your Father."

"You must be willing to accept your good here and now, as a reality and as a natural part of your universe."

"You must enter into the joys of the Sons of God."

"You must claim your right and press your claim as the Son of the Living God."

"You must be glad, for you are in a NEW DAY."

"Must accept the Presence of the Living God, and know that He lives, breathes, moves and has His being in you."

It is wonderful ! wonderful ! wonderful ! And so are the glorious possibilities of your contacting Him, Here, There, Everywhere; at every place and every time. "Ask and ye shall receive" has again been made true - you will learn the glorious "open sesame" of "Thank you, Father," because you are arriving at the point where you are transcending the human argument and reason, and are able to accept the inspired word of God as True. All you can do, then, is to say" Thank you, Father," because before you even voice the idea, the answer is - and by the glorious revelation that we are now receiving we can prove this for ourselves. It is wonderful that "Everyman" is beginning to go out to see the Principle, and he is coming home filled and thrilled with the fulfillment of the Promises. It is wonderful ! wonderful ! wonderful !

The new way is opening before you - you are beginning to accept the words of the Master as True and without reservations. You are beginning to step out on the Promises of God. It is wonderful. "Be still and know" sets aside the human thinking, and makes you free to receive the laws which no human mind has yet stated - the laws of attainment and accomplishment which are unconditioned and free. Such is the gift that Father Divine has brought to us in the only Impersonal way since Jesus brought it. It is wonderful ! wonderful ! wonderful !

One "Everyman" asked another, "Well, if He does not want money, nor followers, and is not seeking to build a new movement, nor a church, what does He want ?" And the other answered: "He wants you to know your God-given heritage and He wants you to accept His glorious offer of Freedom, for He has said "You are not another but the same one - What I AM you are." Could anything be more glorious, more free or more Wonderful?

(The quoted Italics are the words of Father Divine, in whom I recognize a Door of Revelation. When he said to me : "No man should call me Father who sees me as a man" I knew that I had found a thoroughfare which would lead somewhere other than to unfulfilled Promises.--W.C.L.)

MORE ABOUT FATHER DIVINE AND WALTER LANYON

SOURCE

Father Divine Speaks to Washington

"PEACE EVERYONE! Good Health, Good Will, and a Good Appetite for all of the Inhabitants of Washington City, the same as for New York. All of these blessings are for you, if you will live Evangelical, but you cannot come into possession of them unless you bring your bodies into subjection to the Life and the Teaching of CHRIST, the Author and the Finisher of all of these good blessings.

"...I need not say so much in Words, as I have long since said, and still AM Saying, I will preach CHRIST in Words partially only, but more so in deeds and in actions, and I will put MY Spirit in them and cause them to walk in MY Statutes. For this cause we will be speaking to you in our very Invisible Presence. By the Presence of GOD, transmitingly, to you as to others, this Presence is Sufficient to speak silently and secretly, when you are sleeping in your dreams. It can and will speak, when you are sleeping, when you are not dreaming. When you arise in the morning you will be thinking somewhat differently.

"I Said the other day, in coming to Washington, D.C., MY endeavors were, to create an atmosphere of enthusiasm, and stir the spirit of merriness in the hearts and lives of the people, that they might be partakers of the CHRIST'S Characteristics,--and also to contagionize the atmosphere of Washington, D.C., with the very Spirit of GOD'S Presence, that this great contagion might catch the White House on Fire, that the Spirit of GOD'S Presence might speak in the President, and act in the officials. It is indeed wonderful!

"Why do I Say, that it might speak in the President and act in the officials? It is because it is transmittable! It is because it is reincarnatable! It is because it is personifiable! Therefore, this Truth and this Mind, shall be universally Personified. By its being universally Personified, it will bring all nations, languages, tongues and people together, that they might

'Love ye one another.'

"This is a Sample, this is an Example, I have brought to Washington, as a Sample for all of humanity, as the Personifier of the Brotherly Love of the Universal Brotherhood of Man. When this shall have been established in the Capitol of our great Country, then and there, there will be no more race-riots and wars, among the people. "

Excerpt from FATHER DIVINE'S Sermon

Given at the Murray Casino, Washington, D.C., December 18, 1934 A.D.F.D.

Our Father Speaks on the Importance of PRESENCE

FATHER'S Message given in
the Auditorium of the
Philadelphia Hotel
764-772 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA
July 15, 1942 A.D.F.D.

This beautiful Message stresses the vast importance of recognizing GOD'S Actual Presence daily and hourly and getting rid of the old doctrine which has been taught and preached for centuries that GOD is absent from the children of men and that HE rules and reigns in a Kingdom far beyond the sun, moon and stars.

In this present world dilemma the Presence of GOD is sorely needed by every nation, language, tongue and people, and vainly their prayers are sent to an imaginary GOD in an imaginary heaven. But oh, how glorious it is to realize that GOD Almighty is on earth among men in a beautiful Holy Body and millions and millions have been made cognizant of this great news and glad tidings. Millions are daily being lifted from lacks, wants and limitations; their bodies healed; their minds cleansed; their souls renewed, by calling on the Precious Holy Name of FATHER DIVINE, the Redeemer and the Savior of the universe!

Men and women of the political, social, religious, industrial, professional and all other worlds of expression are coming from far and near, telling of the marvelous things that have been accomplished for them, simply by calling on that Holy Name -- rejoicing as they declare to the world at large that they have found GOD Almighty! Thus it was on this occasion that as usual a large number of visiting friends were present and accepted of the invitation extended them to speak. Several of their speeches are transcribed herein for your benefit and enjoyment.

Thank YOU, FATHER Dear!

(The foregoing statements are those of the transcriber, after which is recorded the song sung by the audience just before FATHER arose to speak.)

'I know the LORD has come, I know the LORD has come.
Glory, Glory Hallelujah! I know the LORD has come!'

FATHER speaks as follows:

PEACE EVERYONE! That little composition is much in harmony and in keeping with the Mission of Jesus of nineteen hundred years ago. Nineteen hundred years it has been a living reality to those who can perceive it and sincerely believe it. Aren't you glad!

It is written:

'They shall call His Name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us!'

That was the Mission of the coming of CHRIST in the Person of Jesus: to bring into the realization of the children of men GOD'S Actual Presence, so that they might realize GOD is no longer in that imaginary heaven according to the suppositions of men, but GOD Himself is with them.

Now this is not strange. Because of the Mission of CHRIST you should not feel as though it is strange in this Gospel country and Bible land, for you have been taught from your early existence, GOD is Ever Present, but not so distinctly and so vividly as the teaching of the present day, bearing witness to GOD'S Presence with and without a Person.

Then I say, when you sing those assertions, you have the witness in yourself. If you sing it sincerely, if you sing it in all sincerity GOD has truly come to you for what said Malachi concerning the mystery?

'The LORD Whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His Temple!'

That recognition, that realization would solve every problem; it would adjust matters satisfactorily for you if you could but know once and forever, GOD is actually Present!

I retrace your thoughts back, those of you who have heard and know ME, to one of My original Compositions as a motto for your consideration, in keeping with that particular quotation:

'The Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD
is the Source of all supply and it will satisfy every Good Desire!'

As the light shines more and more and you observe the Truth concerning the mystery by what you are presently experiencing, you can say with ME, ". . . it is the SOURCE of all supply; it can, it will and it actually does satisfy every Good Desire!"

As the light dispels darkness, even so GOD'S Presence dispels and eradicates undesirable conditions. For this cause it is essential to keep GOD in consciousness according to the Scripture in the fulfillment of that prediction, and have your religious conviction according to the standard of that particular composition.

The LORD has truly come and is with men and always has been but they did not know it. But since calling your attention to the original composition and prediction of the coming of CHRIST:

'They shall call His Name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us!'

If the preachers of the Gospel and representatives of the cloth could have, and would have taught this simple Truth since nineteen hundred years ago, GOD would have been REAL among you! GOD would not have placed by preaching and by teaching, some place in the sky geographically, neither far away from the children of men, and would not have given the "other fellow" a chance to come in. But because men teach the absence of GOD and preach the absence of GOD and not the Presence of GOD, the absence of GOD has been made real to the children of men, for GOD hides His Face from them. They live in misery, they live in sin, they live in disappointment and they live in failure because they disrecognize GOD'S Actual Presence to adjust matters satisfactorily for them.

But this Truth to you is real! It is real according to your conviction because you realize and have seen the actual demonstration of GOD'S Actual Presence in evidence in your experience, therefore, it is a reality; it is made Real, Tangible and Practical, for the Word has been made FLESH and dwells among you and you are convinced in reality GOD has been made Tangible and Practical!

To the average religious person GOD is not more than a supposition, but to those of you whose minds have been lifted, GOD to you is a REALITY and you recognize GOD'S Presence even if you do not see HIM. By believing it so vividly, GOD was obliged to materialize it and reproduce it and Personify it so that you might realize the Truth concerning the mystery!

The earth was real even though void, but to the conscious mentality that is, it would not have been real to the conscious mentality of men when that consciousness would have come, had it not been made material; tangibilated, materialized and personified!

I would not be real as a Person to you if you did not know the Truth concerning the mystery, if I had not brought this Message and explained it so explicitly.

The earth was mentally and spiritually real in GOD'S Recognition and Realization, but in the conscious mentality that was to come the earth would not have been real to them, because it was essential for GOD to materialize the earth and cause the earth to be Tangible as matter, as something that could be discerned and made a reality, because the conscious mentality does not observe realities saving as they are tangibilated, materialized and consciously realized.

But oh, how glorious it was to observe the mystery in the making yea, in the creation, making ready, in a way of speaking, for the making of the things that were very desirable. GOD said,

'Let dry land appear!'

It seems like I AM obliged to take you back to the beginning of the creation to bring GOD into your conscious recognition and into your realization, for the children of men do not realize GOD unless you bring them back where HE was in the beginning, as in your personal religious experience. Many times a good many of you are obliged to go back to Conviction's Wharf. Aren't you glad! When I take you back down there where your dungeons shook, why, then you are getting right for the making of the contact with your religious career and travel on from there to here. Aren't you glad! Going back to Conviction's Wharf in your religious and spiritual infancy, when your dungeons shook and your chains fell off in the old-fashioned way of getting religion!

There was a great spiritual awakening in the original system of the common custom of getting converted, as being termed getting religion. A great change in those days took place and you felt good. It was something more than mortal to command and you actually felt as though it was a mighty Hand that had reached low and lifted you; a good many of you felt it. It was a Supernatural Touch according to your conviction and according to the original and former teaching of the religion under which you had been christened. Aren't you glad!

But that is the mystery; because under whatsoever religious conviction or religious creed you are christened, you speak mentally and spiritually after that respective religious conviction, and you get an answer to your sincere prayer according to that birth under which you have been mentally and spiritually born, to that degree. Therefore, it is a blessing to observe the mystery. But bringing you into a more perfect manner of expression, it is a glorious privilege to realize GOD is actually Present; GOD is no longer merely a supposition.

You have imagined many things. Those things you once imagined were not real in reality, saving as they were made tangible and practical and you left that world of imagination in consideration and brought it into your conscious religious conviction by the realization of something better in evidence in your experience. GOD healed your physical body. GOD clothed you and fed you when you were hungry. Then it was bringing that religious conviction into a more recognized state of consciousness where you could realize GOD was not merely surmised, GOD was not just a supposition but a Living Reality!

So, live in this Recognition and lo, I will be with you; and as you think, so will it be, for

'According to your faith so be it unto thee!'

I did not arise at this instance to speak at length, I merely arose especially to give our visiting friends a chance to speak. I delight in meeting and having visiting friends of those who are Christians and those who are non-Christians to participate in these meetings. You are welcome to come if you care to come, and you are welcome to speak and sing and be led by the Spirit within if you are so led to do it. Therefore, those of our visiting friends as ministers of the Gospel, teachers and preachers of religion and professors and teachers and lecturers of social service and other works of righteousness, you are welcome to speak. Anything you wish to say as giving cooperative information such as you have according to your conviction, you are welcome to speak; but do not feel as though you must necessarily speak according to ours. You are welcome to be governed by your highest intuition and we should be governed by ours.

Let this Spirit and this Mind be in you that was also in CHRIST JESUS, and the development and the unfoldment of that particular Mind of which I AM now speaking will eventually be brought to fruition within you as well as in others, for it is written,

'Be ye therefore perfect even as your FATHER which is in heaven is perfect!'

It is your privilege to do it. Now I need not say more at this particular instance, but I AM refraining from speaking to give our visiting friends a chance to speak. If they desire an introduction according to custom, we are pleased to introduce you whensoever you give us the necessary information. I thank you.

(As a card was passed up to FATHER, our loving Savior arose again to say:)

PEACE EVERYONE! We have with us the Reverend Doctor Griffin. If Doctor Griffin would like to have a word to say he is welcome to come forward to the platform and speak, if he is led to do so. I thank you.

(At this instance Reverend Griffin, Assistant Pastor of the Umbria Baptist Church, came forward and spoke as follows:)

Beloved: It is a wonderful pleasure for me to have the privilege for the first time, meeting FATHER DIVINE, at which time I was seeing HIM in New York on the street and I was not able to get close by HIM because HE was in a parade. The greatest of all was when I heard such Gospel that HE was preaching. There is no other Gospel under the sun that can stop it! That is the onliest Gospel there was in the world! Any time the Truth is told it is Gospel. It is really surprising to me for some things that HE did say, because you hear things that are not actually the truth, but when I came and heard it for my own self, then I can witness that as preaching the Gospel.

HE is worth every word that can be said about HIM! I could have sat and listened to HIM for all night; and I believe HE preaches the same Gospel I preach. I tell the people that they must be born again. They must be born again!

I could say more but I am so filled from the very, very fine way I was introduced to you until I hardly know what to say; but I wish it would be that I could come back some other time and explain myself to you just the way I do feel.

I know, this thing -- you know, religion, you can't tell it all at once anyway. It takes some time to tell it. But I can say I want to live so GOD can use me at all times; and when we live so righteous that GOD can use us, then you can never lose anything!

If I should speak no more ever in your presence, you love FATHER DIVINE! I believe myself, HE is wonderful; I always longed to see HIM Personally. Many miracles have been done by your FATHER DIVINE; many miracles have been done, and whether you know it or not, but the majority of the world is trying to get what HE got. No longer than today, I don't know why, I did not know I was going to be here tonight. There was a "w---" gentleman talking to me. He said to me, he said, "What do you think of FATHER DIVINE?" What do I think of FATHER DIVINE? I said, "Well, I think HE is about the wonderfullest Man' that ever was." He said, "I think so myself." He said, "If the whole world could get what HE has," he said, "what would the world be?" He said, "It would be a heaven right here, wouldn't it?" And so he said it is so strange until I put my hand on my head and I said, "I believe you are right." And on and on we talked.

And tonight my main reason for being down in this vicinity is because there is a quartette I used to sing with in Norfolk, Virginia, that happened to be at the Tindley's Temple, and I came down to hear them sing. I used to broadcast with them over station WTAR, and by getting here I saw this car and I knew I had seen this car in the parade in New York. I said, "Oh, my Lord, the One that I have been wanting to see here a long time is here now and I will go over." And I thank you for this little space you have allowed me to speak. I could say more. May GOD bless you and may you ever pray that I may be blessed too, that HE can get the glory out of my life and that I may ever be the man GOD wants to use in this glorious day. I thank you!

As Reverend Griffin concluded, FATHER arose to speak again as follows:

PEACE EVERYONE! Here we all are, in the Unity of the Spirit, of Mind, of Aim and of Purpose to contagionize others with this which we are now experiencing, for we are going on!

If any of our other visiting friends in our midst desire to have a word to say, you are welcome to do so. Do not feel obligated to speak as we speak, neither as the last speaker, Doctor Griffin, but feel free to speak according to your own religious conviction. If it happens to be Mine, it is all right; if it does not happen to be Mine, why, it is all right too. Paul said:

'Let every man be persuaded by his own opinion.'

I say in this modern age:

'Let each person be governed by his highest intuition and move volitionally. Be conscientious and sincere and he will bring forth the CHRIST within to fruition that will give him the victory!'

Remember, Paul said on one occasion:

'The Law of the Spirit of Life that was in CHRIST JESUS has made me free from the law of sin and death.'

The same Law will free you because it is impersonal. Aren't you glad! To each and everybody it is applicable. You can apply it to your life. By bringing your body into subjection it will give you the selfsame emancipation that Paul was speaking of when he said:

The Law of the Spirit of Life in CHRIST JESUS has made me free from the law of sin and death!'

Now, I say, be governed by your highest intuition and be not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST! Some people are ashamed to speak, only in their own congregations, but I rejoice and much appreciate the last speaker because he is not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST. I believe he realizes this is a Power because this shall sweep the universe. It shall envelop the world, and all nations, languages, tongues and people shall eventually be universal believers! I mean, and I believe the same thing just like you and I believe in the Actual Presence of GOD, that shall satisfy every good desire! I thank you.

(At this point another gentleman arose volitionally to speak as follows:)

Peace: I want to say that I traveled from coast to coast, and since I have been here I have tried to get up and speak in some of FATHER'S places. Now I want to say here that I see that FATHER DIVINE is the onliest Real GOD there is. You can say what you want to say. I have been right there in Youngstown, Ohio, in the Baptist Church, and they charge you ten cents when you go inside the church and then watch over you while you go out. But this is no gambling den. There is no gambling den in FATHER'S place, but every church you go to, it is a gambling den!

I do believe that FATHER DIVINE is GOD Almighty. I don't understand very much but as far as I can see, HE is GOD. I believe HE is GOD and I am going to follow HIM!

It was after this speech that FATHER arose to speak once more as follows:

PEACE EVERYONE! This is not a systematized and an organized class meeting as we usually have in our Methodist Churches, but I move, I speak volitionally to endorse the last speaker; and at times we move volitionally in the actuated words of expression, doing just what others may do by custom, but when the Spirit does it, it is just the same as if it was done by custom.

Class leaders lead the class and instruct the speakers. I have arisen to endorse the speaker in his religious conviction, in his determination to live the Life and keep the Faith and do that which is Just and Right in the act of serving GOD according to his own religious conviction.

If there are any other visiting friends desire to have a word to say you are welcome to do so. If you contact ME harmoniously the reaction of the harmonious touch will bring you your desired results. I thank you.

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He shall be called "GOD with Us"

A Definition from Wikipedia:

Darshan is a Sanskrit term meaning "sight" (in the sense of an instance of seeing or beholding; from a root dṛś "to see"), vision, apparition, or glimpse. It is most commonly used for "visions of the divine," i.e. of a god or a very holy person or artifact. One could "receive darshana" of the deity in the temple, or from a great saintly person, such as a great guru.

In the sense "to see with reverence and devotion," the term translates to hierophany, and could refer either to a vision of the divine or to being in the presence of a highly revered person. In this sense it may assume a meaning closer to audience. "By doing darshan properly a devotee develops affection for God, and God develops affection for that devotee."