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Father Divine pilgrimage... Promise Land...
Father Divine pilgrimage... Promise Land...
Item # 720732
August 21, 1936
THE KNICKERBOCKER PRESS, Albany, August 21, 1936
* Father Divine's pilgrimage
* African American spiritual leader
* International Peace Mission movement
The bottom of the front page has a three column heading: "Father Divine and His 'Harlem Angels' Ride to Heaven on a Steamboat Special" (see images)
Complete with 20 pages, light toning and as little wear at the margins, generally nice.
AI notes: In 1936, Father Divine led one of his largest pilgrimages to Kingston, New York, where he had recently established a headquarters following legal troubles in Sayville. Thousands of his followers traveled from across the country, drawn by his message of racial equality, economic self-sufficiency, and spiritual prosperity, believing him to be God incarnate. The pilgrims paraded through the streets of Kingston singing hymns, carrying banners proclaiming “Peace! Father Divine is God!” and participating in massive communal banquets, known as Holy Communion Banquets, that emphasized shared wealth and moral uplift. The sheer size of the gathering briefly overwhelmed the small city and drew intense national media attention, highlighting both the devotion of his followers and the unusual interracial character of the movement during the segregated 1930s. The Kingston pilgrimage represented a high point in Father Divine’s efforts to create a utopian religious community and to expand the influence of his International Peace Mission Movement, blending spiritual revival with social activism in a uniquely public display of faith and solidarity.
Category: The 20th Century
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$48.00
