Father Divine photos and papers

In the spring, I was at a New York auction where a purple and white felt banner denoting Father Divine’s ministry sold for a whopping $30,000. That was the first time I had come across any item at auction relating to the famed spiritual leader.

It was a clean and simple wall hanging, and I wondered if it had been hand-made by a member, which would be in keeping with Father Divine’s teachings of self-sufficiency. At the top and bottom were the words “God” – the name his followers had ascribed to him when he ran his movement more than a half-century ago.

Had it hung behind him as he preached in his churches in New York and Philadelphia, or spoke before thousands at other venues? Or did it hang in one of his hotels, the most famous of which in Philadelphia was the Divine Lorraine Hotel, a towering brick structure that seemed to reach to the sky, topped by its name in neon. The hotel stands today as a fading monument to Father Divine and his beliefs (among which was that men and women reside on different floors of the hotel). A state historical marker erected outside the building identifies its history and significance.

At auction recently, my auction buddy Janet directed me to some other items from Father Divine’s past: a small group of photos and papers in worn plastic that had fortunately protected them from wear and tear. Several were photos of him and Mother Divine. Others were messages from him to his followers, one of whom likely owned these documents. Some of the papers dated to the 1950s, and the latest was a 52nd anniversary program in 1998 held at the Divine Tracy Hotel in West Philadelphia.

Another was a message from a 1951 dinner in the Penthouse Dining Room at the Divine Lorraine Hotel. Another was an envelope with a paper rose for his “Rosebuds,” a group of young women singers who wore red jackets with a “V” for virgin, blue skirts and white blouses. “THIS ROSEBUDS HEART … I Gave as a Message of Love to My Rosebuds eternally.” – Father Divine, 12/11/59.” Maybe the owner of these papers was a Rosebud.

I grew up knowing about Rev. Ike and his “put-your-hand-on-the-radio-to-be-healed”” message, but not much ab0ut Father Divine. Coming to Philadelphia some years ago, I became very familiar with his name and his larger-than-life hotel on Broad Street. He had been dead 20 years by then, but his legacy was still apparent. 

Father Divine had a large 73-acre spread called Woodmont outside Philadelphia that was given to him by a follower in 1953, and in his heyday, an even larger following all over the world. The movement is in the process of constructing a historical library at Woodmont to tell its story.

Very little precise information is known about his early life, even his real name. He apparently started ministering near the turn of the 20th century. His taken name – Father Divine – became very familiar as thousands of white and black adherents joined his International Peace Mission movement or flocked to places where he was speaking. Early on, he was arrested for disturbing the peace and other infractions, and called a fraud, but those things only boosted his fame.

He preached a philosophy of self-reliance, abstinence and celibacy, and empowerment. His movement owned property, opened hotels and restaurants, and offered services to its members. He advocated for civil rights and racial equality, and against lynchings. He moved to Philadelphia in 1942, where he married a white Canadian woman who became known as Mother Divine – “the Spotless Bride – the Virgin,” as he described her in one of the documents at auction.

After the 1950s, his influence and movement dwindled. Mother Divine became the movement’s spiritual leader after his death in 1965. Cult leader Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple – who would become infamous for the Jonestown massacre in 1978 – considered himself the heir to Father Divine’s ministry.

At auction, Janet told me that she bought the items, but I’m not sure for how much. I am sure, though, that they didn’t match the price of the banner.