AMERICAN EVANGELISM

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 423, 3 May 1937, Page 5

AMERICAN EVANGELISM

BRANCH IN SYDNEY “FATHER DIVINE’’ MOVEMENT Started by New Zealand Women Press Associai lon—Copyright(Received 11 a.m.) Sydney, May 3. “Peace missions" connected with the American evangelist. “Father Divine,” exist in Sydney and Mel. bourne. According to one Sydney newspaper, a New Zealand woman started the local centre in 1924. She says that the followers of “Father Divine” recognise his presence as God instead of think, ing of God In Heaven. NEGRO’S CLAIMS Twenty Million Followers “Father Divine,” who is under ar. rest in America, is a negro who is not modest about his claims to divinity. In h's own weekly journal, “Ths Spoken Word,” he begins a letter ot reproof to a “metaphysical teacher” a.- follows:—“1 write as I wish to advise. I, the R-v, M'. J. Divine, Universally knou.u as Faliej. Divine, but I deck'.'i'ed by tw.nly millions (20.000,. 0(0) or more as God, Almighty in I bodily form, have heard of you,” and iso. on. One of bis followers, in th® same issue, hat' a devoted letter—in which every lettrence to him is either capital letters or begins with a capital—describing how she lay in hospital with blood poisoning in the leg, end a fractured bone in her hand, assuring a specialist 'that “Father Divine” would heal it. The specialist's answer was also published: ■ti Well, I’m only a dumb bone.special--isL but I'd like to be in on that racket.” Throughout this sacrilegious publication, the leader is r ferred lo variously a? Father and Master, and the name is always spelt in capitals. And in three places hit portrait appears with tho Imee, “Fath r Divine, personification of .the Father--■iln Degree of God ”