DEVINE SECT MUST STOP CLAPPING

Chronicle (Levin), 28 May 1946, Page 2

DEVINE SECT MUST STOP CLAPPING

Mclbourne followcrs of Father Devine have had to stop clapping and SLaniping "praise" in a hirecl room in Russell Street, Mclbourne, uecause of outcide protests at the noise, reports the Sydney Sun. Oue oi the sect's speakcrs, Mrs. D.. .W. .Andrews, of Jolimont, said ihkt ''silent clapping" could still go j on as long as worshippers did not1 mt Lheir h'ands together. Most of , he congrcgation now beat time by vvaving t.heir hands in the air or by standing up and swaying to the music. There had been rescntment among some of Father's Devine's i followers at the request by the i management to stop the noise because they thought that a clapping ban-.would be departing from Father. Devine's teaching. But the meetings go on just as enthusiastically . now without the noise of clapping and stamping. In- Harlem, the Negro section of New York, Mrs. Andrews said she had seen Father Devine's followers in the sect's "heavens," clapping 'arid shouting and stamping "in praise," but the Father owned the whole building and no one in the building complained about the noise. A "heaven" in Melbourne, --to accommodate worshippers where no one could complain about the noise, was "in the air," she said. There were usually about 50 people in the room, singing, clapping and stamping on Sunday and Monday nights, before the clapping ban. She said the meetings in future • ■would'.be held without any undue noise.