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Forms to be Filled out for Each Interview
FORM A
Circumstance:: of IrtervicA,
STATE L.ew York
NAME OF WORKER Levi C. Hubert
ADDRESS 353 ,Jest 118th 3'. New York City
DATE November 14, 1958
SUBJECT CULT LONE (2ATH-ER DIVINE)
1. Date and time of interew
2. Place of interview
Saturday Nov. 12, 1936
2539 -8th Ave. Man.
A Cafe operated for the Peace Movement
3. Name and addresc or iAformant
Brother Allpeace Littlejohn, 2339 —8th Ave.
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
4. Name and address of person. if any, UAO put you in
touch with informant.
5. Name and address of person, I any, accompanying you
6. Description of room, house, surrGundings, etc.
This eatins place is operated by Mr. Littlejohn. Members of
the peace Movement act as cooks, waiters, and pantry help.
The prices are lower than in other cafes, no smokin,- is all -)we
and the service is poor.
The workers are liable at any tire to break out in son,
and a distinct reli7ious atmosphere can be noted.
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, for any of the forms, each
bearing the proper heading and the number to which the material refers.)
FORV
Personal History or Informant
STATE New York
NAME OF WORKER Levi C. Hubert
mmuEss 353 W. 118th Si, New York
DATE Nov. 14, 1938
SIWECT CULT LORE -(FATHER DIVINE)
1. Ancestry
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
2. Place and date of birth 58 years old, a member of the Father
Divine Movement. Operates restaurants,
A grocery store, and a rooming house.
Does not smoke, chew, nor drink. As
3. Family against the teachings of Father Divine.
Became interested in the movement about
Eight years ago and since then has
adhered strictly to the Divine theory
4. Places lived in, with dates that sexual intercourse is an abomination
That idea, incidently, has been the
cause of many homes being broken up in
the city. The Spoken Word, of which
5. Education, with dates mention is made in the interview, is a
magazine published weekly by the
Divinites, which contains every word
spoken by Father Divine and faithfully
6. Occupations and accomplishments, wiiiixotaams recorded by Mr. Lamb, his sec-
retary. The gage as set down here is
approximate, since Mr. Littlejohn feels
that in disregarding the outside world,
7. Special skills and interests its measurements and computEitions
should be forgotten. He feels that
he was born when he was converted to
Father Divine. And since that event,
8. Community and religious activities he is e-eless because "I am a part
of theiMmortality of Father Divine"
9. Description of informant
10. Other Points gained in interview
FDOM C
Text of Interview (D-ledicd)
STATE NEW YORK
NAM OF MIXER Levi C. Hubert
ADDRESS 353 W. 118th St. New York
DATE Nov. 14, 1938
SUBJECT CULT LORE*FATHER DIVINE)
FOLKLOOP
NEW YORK
"Peace." This, the universal slogan of the Father Divine
Movement, was spoken quietly by Mr. Singleton in response to my
greeting.
The formalities gotten over with, Mr. Singleton agreed with
me that many stories had grown up and around the person of Rather
Divine.
Said Mr. Singleton:
"As far back as 1931, when Father Divine had established
a Heaven in Sayville, Long Island, the people of the world told and
retold stories which were founded on first hand evidence es well as
on hearsay.
Every Sunday in 1931 it was the custom of "The Father" to
invite Harlemites out to the"Heaven" and sit them around the festive
board and allow them the use of the many automobiles in the "Father's"
garage.
One of the visitors, a young girl of about 20, had begged
a ride out to Sayville. She sat down at the table and ate a large
meal, good wholesome food, which she admitted had become rather hard
to Let in Harlem, what with the depression and bein unemployed. The
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Father noticed this young girl and spoke to her.
"My child, would you like to stay here for a few weeks and
enjoy the blessings of Heaven?"
"Father, I would be delighted."
Father had one of the arch agels escort the young girl
upstairs after dinner and when she reache room set aside for' her she
found shoes, stockings, a dress, and underthings, all new and exactly
her size, laid out on the bed.
The arch angel smiled and saidY"Aint it wonderful."
The girl asked, "Are these clothes for me?"
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"'Yes. The Father, who knos everything, is aware of the
sorry time you are having and it was he who put it in your mind to
come out here. Now that you are here, he will see that you want for
nothing as long as you believe, Aint it Wonderful?"
"It is truly wonderful," said the amazed girl.
The Evil One got into the folks of Sayville about this time
and the police of Sayville arrested the entire household one Saturday
night, most of us were held on a charge of disorderly conduct but the
Father was charged with maintaining a disorderly house and held for
the action of the court.
When the judge asked us whether we had made loud noises and
created a disturbance, we sang hymns in the courtroom and said that
it was true that we were rejoicing in the favor of the Father and
being glad would only disturb unbelievers.
The judge charged us $10 and cost, each one of except the
Father. The judge said that he would have to have atrial and stay
in jail until that time.
The Father paid our fines and when the police made us leave
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the courthouse, the Father said, "My children. I will watch over
the faithful. It is part of my will that I stay in jail but I'll
only stay hare as long as I will it. So, go home, and everything
will be all right, Peace".
'We all shouted, "Peace. Peace." and went our way.
Father was put in a cell remained quiet all night but
when the keeper came in the morning with the coarse prison food,
the Father wouldn't touch it. He had the keeper take the tray away.
"But, remember, "The keeper said, "You get nothing else to
eat." Father said, "Peace" and immediately a beautiful breakfast
appeared.
The keeper passed the cell and was amazed to see the father
dating fresh eggs and ham with coffee. We were in the heaven
gathered around our breakfast table and Father's place was set as
usual and Father came to the table and blessed the food for us to
eat. The Father can be any and all places at one and the same time.
When the father was convicted, the judge didn't sentence
him right away because he knew what had happened to two other judges
who did that and died suddenly. So sure Inough, the Sunday before
the judge handed down a writ of doubt and since then the case has
never been brought to trail. The power of the Father is too well
known to chance anyone fooling with it.
The Father does not allow gum to be chewed by his followers,
no smoking, and the hair must not be straightened, but must be as
natural as it was ordained.
Anyone who violates the teachings of the Father is bound
to feel the anger of the Father, but those who believe in him are
sure to have his blessings fall down upon them.
I remember the woman who was helped by believing in the
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Father. She was without work, had no money, and the landlord was
about to disposess her. Her so-called friends had abandoned her and
in her hour of need there was no one to turn to; no one, that is,
but to the Father. She had heard of his doings and now that her
sorrow was great, she prayed for help to the Father.
She was in her almost empty apartment, down on her knees,
asking for the Father to bring her strength and safety.
It has been told me, and I have no reason to doubt it,
that out of a hole in the wall a rat brought two fifty dollar bills,
which he laid at the poor woman's feet. Her troubles were over and
I feel certain that the Father was the one responsible for the money
sent her.
I knbw because a few years ago I was unable to get work
end today, with the help of the Father, I have a restaurant where
the people can get good food at a reasonable price. No one is turned
away if he doesn't have the money. I also have a grocery store where
the everyday necessities of life can be purchased much cheaper than
elsewhere.
All the money I make goes to keep up the good work of
Father Divine. I sell The Spoken Word, in which is recorded every
word spoken by the Father to his children. In this w ay I do my share
mid show my gratitude to the Father for his many blessings.
Do you remember last summer? Those hot days were a warning
to the people of the world that he was still watching and taking into
account all the many things said against him.
Father doesn't allow any of his children to go on relief and
if my of them have ever been on relief Father makes them pay back
all the money they ever got.
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Sure, some people have died in the Heaven. But they have
been without faith. Perhaps they had faith for a while but Father
would not have allowed them to die if they still believe in him.
Faithful Mary was sick and living in sin when Father took
pity in the goodness of his heart and made her well and let her live
in Heaven with him. She tired of the happy way and went off with
money which she had been keeping for the children. But she didn't
really hurt Father because he is above such things.
Roosevelt will be the last president. After him will come
the Divine Executive who will rule the world properly and all Father's
children will once more live in Heaven. There will be peace in all
the world.