In the summer of 1946, Father Divine married a twenty-one-year-old white Canadian woman. The news story was another source of great controversy and public criticism for a religious group whose spiritual leader was a sixty-five-year-old African American believed to be an incarnation of God. For over two decades, Americans watched Father Divine’s International Peace Mission Movement grow to be a major economic and political force. As he had done many times in the past, Father Divine used the public controversy over the interracial, celibate marriage as a way to spread his messages. The marriage, he said, was the ultimate example of God’s approval of racial integration, of international peace and the “life of Christ”. Mother Divine was the embodiment of the conviction: “I know You Are God” and by marrying one of his followers, he married his whole Church.

Reincarnation is not central to Father Divine’s doctrine of “Heaven on Earth”, but it did become an important aspect of his marriage to “Sweet Angel” (Edna Rose Ritchings) in 1946. He claimed she was the reincarnation of his first wife Peninniah, the first Mother Divine, who died in 1943. Peninnah was a devoted follower of Father Divine in the early days of his Peace Mission and became his “spiritual wife” in 1914 or 1917. Though Peninnah was “dark complected” and Sweet Angel is “light complected”, many followers speak of the resemblances of the two “Mother Divines.” In this video, Miss Meekness Love tells a personal story about her past, before she became a follower of Father Divine. The story sheds light on Father Divine’s conception of reincarnation. Rather than seeing reincarnation as part of rigid cosmology, it is brought out as a willful, creative and compassionate act. This interview was held in March of 1996.

Each follower of the Peace Mission Movement has a story about his or her conviction that Father Divine is the living incarnation of God. Miss Heddy’s conviction occurred before the Swiss alps in 1940. At the time, she didn’t speak English and had not visited the United States. She had met a small group of Peace Mission followers in Basil and heard all about Father Divine, but her logic told her that God could not possibly be walking around in Harlem, New York. In 1949, nine years after her conviction, she found her way to New York City to work with children. She met Father Divine and her faith was confirmed. She moved permanantly to the United States in 1956.

Two episodes documenting the 50th anniversary banquets held at The Bible Institute in North Philadelphia on April 29th and 30th, 1996. 6-7 minutes each.

Two episodes documenting the 50th anniversary banquets held at The Bible Institute in north Philadelphia on April 29th and 30th, 1996. 6-7 minutes each.

Two episodes documenting the 50th anniversary banquets held at The Divine Tracy Hotel in West Philadelphia on April 26th, 1996.

When Father Divine died at his Woodmont estate on September 10th 1965, Mother Divine became the spiritual leader of the movement. She took on the enormous responsibility of maintaining the properties and businesses that housed and employed thousands of followers. She also carried on the spiritual teachings both within the movement and in public. Mother Divine and the followers continue to recognize the “personal presence” of Father Divine everywhere and at all times. In conversation, he is refered to in the present tense. Everyday, a new suit and tie are layed out for him on his bed. At Banquet services, a place is kept for him at the head of the table. His plate is served from the many platters of food and a follower working in the kitchen will be “blessed” to eat this food after the service. There are photographs of Father Divine in all rooms and recordings of his sermons played at all meals. And yet, “The Shrine to Life” was built at the Woodmount estate in 1968 to house his body, a recognition of his absence. Considering that followers believe only in “heaven on earth,” Father Divine is both personally present and personally absent. These interviews were held in 1996.

The Peace Mission banquet service always ends with spontaneous song and dance. During dessert (when four or five different sweet dishes are passed around), followers and guests will stand and give testimonials of faith, praise Father Divine or simply give thanks. Between these testimonials (as dishes are collectively cleared from the table), someone will be inspired to sing. The Peace Mission has their own treasury of songs that span their history and draw on many musical traditions. There will be shouts of joy, clapping, dancing and sometimes a follower will be “moved by the spirit.” Miss Roma Graveur, a follower from Australia, talks about first connecting to Father Divine’s sense of rhythm and then we see a lively night at The Circle Mission Church on Broad Street in Philadelphia – one of many 50th Anniversary banquet services.

Sayville, Long Island (about 40 miles East of New York City) is where Father Divine’s ministry was transformed nearly overnight. In 1931, Father and Mother Divine (Peninniah) had purchased a house in the small white suburb of Sayville and there they held their Holy Communion banquet services where everyone was served “more than wine and a wafer.” In the middle of the depression, these multi-course feasts must have been miraculous. Visitors from all over, black and white, began arriving at 71 Macon Street, “the Home of the Soul,” to be fed and healed. The dancing and singing would often continue late into the evening. One night in 1932, there was a police raid on the house during a particularly spirited service. Father Divine and several followers were arrested. They were charged with disturbing the peace, but the case became about the white community’s fear of racial commingling. The events that followed turned Father Divine into a nationally known figure and brought tens of thousands to the belief that he was “God, condescended in a body.”

“There’s no point in seeking to go somewhere else that you don’t know about. Enjoy this good earth God gave us.” – Miss Kingdom

Two episodes documenting the 50th anniversary banquets held at The Divine Tracy Hotel on April 26th, 1996. 6-7 minutes each.

The second part of an interview with Mother Divine held in June, 1997. She talks about the significance of Father Divine’s dark complexion.